Lib Dem Plans for Post Office

The Liberal Democrats have endorsed a 5 point plan to safeguard and enhance the Post Office. We would preserve the network in the following ways:

1. £2 billion investment in Post Office branches
2. New branches where there is a need
3. Retain Post Office Card Accounts for benefit payments
4. Free the Post Office from Royal Mail restrictions to let it develop new business
5. New requirement for the Government to maintain the local Post Office network

Labour is proposing not to use the Post Office Card Account to pay pensions and benefits from 2010, opening specialist passport offices and not confirming renewal of the Rural PO subsidy. Now we hear that the BBC will no longer allow the TV licences to be renewed at local Post Offices.

Cllr Roger Symonds said:
“Under the last Conservative Government, 3500 post offices closed, and under Labour another 4000 have closed, hitting communities, including Combe Down, across the country. 10000 more could close in the coming years, reducing the number to a mere 4000. Neither Labour nor the Tories have any plan to safeguard the future of our vital Post Office network.”