MP tackles post office minister over 'perverse' closure plans
PLANS to shut post offices in Plymouth have been branded 'perverse' at Westminster.
Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton Linda Gilroy tackled Post Office Minister Pat McFadden in the Commons over the move to shut branches in her constituency.
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PROTEST: Linda Gilroy, right, and postmaster Abul Tarafder at a public meeting opposing plans to close Pennycomequick Post Office
A six-week public consultation into the controversial proposals ended this week, and the fate of the threatened branches is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
Under the plans, South West Devon is also set to see five branches axed, including Underwood Post Office in Plympton.
The closures form part of a radical Government overhaul of the network, which will see 2,500 branches shut across the country.
The Government argues four million fewer people a week are using post offices than just two years ago, and the network loses £3.5million a week.
Ministers point out that £1.7billion of subsidy is being made available to maintain the remaining network.
However, during a Parliamentary debate secured on the city closure plans, Mrs Gilroy argued the Post Office had got it wrong in Plymouth.
Viable branches were being closed in the city, which had ambitious regeneration plans and was set to see 30,000 new homes built in the next two decades, she said.
In the Commons this week, Mrs Gilroy again challenged the minister over the proposals, saying: “When we have a Devon cluster that includes one of the most sparsely-populated counties in the country together with an urban area with some of the most deep-seated poverty, perverse proposals emerge, such as the closures of Pennycomequick, Beaumont Road and St Levan Valley post offices.
“Does he really think he is getting value for money from the £1.7billion when it produces such perverse proposals to close busy post offices?”
Responding, Mr McFadden said: “She has made her point, and it is clear she believes it is wrong for her city to be in the same closure plan as a major rural area such as the county of Devon. Of course, that has happened in several places around the country where urban and rural areas have been combined for this purpose.
“It is difficult, but the access criteria are intended to ensure that we have a stable network for the future in both rural and urban areas.”
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by M Cook, Llanwrda
Sunday, July 06 2008, 4:25PM
“I never thought i would say this but its a SHAME that Royal mail wasn't privatised from the start. Because then maybe some decent shareholders would do something about the way they are treating people. The ONLy shareholder is Government but it sits back and let's RM get away with whatever it likes. MPs as stakeholders will do nothing about post offices closures all they are interested in is keeping money in the national purse for kitchens, expenses oh and £3 million payouts to their mates at Royal mail. Shame on them all.”
by Sgt.Candy, Coxside
Sunday, July 06 2008, 8:03AM
“Molly get a life you sad woman, Gilroy is a fake just like the rest of the Labour party”
by post man pat, on the dole
Saturday, July 05 2008, 10:32PM
“where were you all when i said me and my cat would suffer because you are all using email ( such as this ) to write ? . cat food is now up by 40% !”
by C22 ROCKS, uk
Saturday, July 05 2008, 9:08PM
“The government is presiding over the wanton destruction of the UK Post Office network- hundreds of closures in addition to privatising Royal Mail by the back door.
All we've seen is a reduction in quality of service, increases in prices, and a lessening of pay, terms and conditions, benefits and pensions for all those employed in the UK postal industry.
New Labour- not for labour”
by Molly, sutton
Saturday, July 05 2008, 8:01PM
“well , i for one will still vote for her. she is my inspiration in life and for my comments on here.”