| Post Office unable to deliver good reasons for branch closures |
| Monday, 21 January 2008 | |
Southport MP John Pugh met with Post Office chiefs to discuss proposed closures in the town last Friday - and left the meeting with the distinct impression that they hadn't done their homework. Dr Pugh, along with Liberal Democrat councillor Sue McGuire, were told at the meeting that the Post Office plans to close two of it's branches in the town; both the Manor Road branch in Churchtown and the branch on Forest Road are scheduled for the axe.
 When quizzed on the proposals however the Post Office representatives seemed largely unaware of the impact this could have on the local area, and the MP describe their knowledge of local geography and services as "severely lacking". Their proposals are supposed to take into account how people will access other nearby Post Offices, and yet at the meeting with Dr Pugh they admitted to the MP that they were unaware of whether local bus routes - which many people will rely on if their local branch is closed - will provide this access. The MP pointed out several further inaccuracies in their printed evidence which they acknowledged needed correction. Overall the impression given at the meeting was that the proposals put forward were flimsy, ill-thought through, and not based on a thorough investigation on the needs of local people. The MP was keen therefore to call on local people to fight the plans which now enter a period of local public consultation. "The Post Office simply haven't made the case for these closures." he commented. "I'm by no means convinced that they've examined the impact these proposals will have on local people, and distinctly unimpressed with the reasoning employed to justify them. It is now up to the people of Southport to put them in the picture - people need to let them know what they think of the plans and make their voices heard." Photo: John Pugh MP and Cllr Sue McGuire scrutinise Post Office proposals. |