Lib Dems Show Support for City Post Offices

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Sep 2006

Liberal Democrat Councillors in Norwich have shown support for local post offices by asking the Council to make its views known to Government about plans to abolish the Post Office Card Account beyond 2010.

Over 300 post offices have closed around the country every year for the last 20 years. The effects have been felt throughout Norwich. Government proposals to stop using the Card Account for pension and benefit payments from 2010 will also threaten the viability of thousands of urban post offices.

Cllr Judith Lubbock

Councillor Judith Lubbock, who proposed action in a motion at tonight's City Council meeting, said: "Sub-post offices are the lifeblood of our Norwich communities and an essential service for them. The most vulnerable people in our society - the over 65s, disabled people, carers, the unemployed and those without a car who find it difficult to use public transport - are amongst those most affected by Post Office closures."

The Post Office Card Account, worth £1 billion to post offices between 2003 - 2010, is used by 4.3 million people every week to obtain their pension and benefit payments.

"We have asked the City Council to make every effort to support local post offices and to promote the use of Post Office services, " said Cllr Lubbock. "The Chief Executive will be sending a copy of our motion to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and to the two Norwich MPs.

"I cannot think that there is anyone who would not be in favour of supporting the future of post offices by retaining the post office card account."

The Liberal Democrats are the only party with a fully costed plan to save the national Post Office network. The party's Spring Conference at Harrogate in 2006 approved a plan to invest £2,000 million in a modern Post Office network.

Related Link:

Harrogate Conference background paper.