POST OFFICE CLOSURES ARE A BETRAYAL

5.34.32pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 14th Dec 2006

Responding to the Government's announcement today on the future of the post office network, Liberal Democrat Oxford West and Abingdon MP, Dr Evan Harris, has attacked the Government for failing to address the future of Royal Mail.

Commenting, Dr Harris said:

"If Oxfordshire is typical, then on the whole country figures given today, there will upwards of around 30 post offices lost under these national plans. In my own constituency we have already lost too many post offices in North Oxford, Summertown, the Botley road and in Abingdon."

"This is the death knell for several local shops and rural businesses in Oxfordshire that depend on their local post office. Rural and deprived urban communities will feel betrayed by these mass post office closures."

"If tough decisions on Royal Mail had been taken, the freedoms and funds for saving post offices could have been found. Without them, both Royal Mail and the post office network will die a slow death.

"Our postal services have a proud 300 year history which this Government has decimated in less than a decade."