Laws slams decision to close post offices (From Yeovil Express)

Laws slams decision to close post offices

9:01am Thursday 29th May 2008 in News By Steve Sowden

YEOVIL MP David Laws has attacked a decision by the Post Office and the Government to close five post offices in Yeovil Constituency.

The Government has just announced that the post offices at Goldcroft in Yeovil, Haselbury Plucknett, Mudford, East Coker and Barwick will be closed - despite strong opposition from local residents, councillors and Mr Laws.

And Mr Laws stormed "I am very angry indeed to hear that the Post Office and Government are pressing ahead with the closure of these five post offices.

"This could mean eventually losing the last shop in four major villages, as well as one of the largest post offices in Yeovil.

"This confirms what many people feared all along - that the so-called "consultation" process has been a sham, and that neither the Government nor the Post Office are really interested in people's views.

"Most of the five post offices facing closure are quite large by the standards of rural post offices, and my strong suspicion is that the Government and Post Office Ltd are just hoping that the smaller post offices will close of their own accord.

"The Government is presiding over the meltdown of our post office network - which will probably never be rebuilt. This is an act of a Government which seems neither to understand nor to care about the needs of rural areas.

"I will now be writing to the Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise to find out if there are any appeal rights than can be exercised."

Mr Laws added: "In the meantime, I am keen to work with any of the communities which want to investigate the possibilities of preserving their only remaining shop."