Paul says: Hands off our Post Offices

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 4th Oct 2007

Paul, with Nether Edge local Councillor Pat White, campaigning against teh closure of Post Offices

A local Liberal Democrat campaigner for Sheffield Central has issues a 'hands off' warning to the Labour Government in the face of an announcement that more local Post Offices will be earmarked for closure. Sheffield's Liberal Democrats have been campaigning against post office closures in the city and today local Sheffield Central campaigner Cllr Paul Scriven is stepping up the fight against Government plans for more closures.

A list of post offices to be closed in Sheffield is set to be published by the Government in the near future. Some offices in other parts of the country such as Doncaster have already been singled out for closure.

Lib Dems believe that Post Offices are a valuable part of the local community that should be protected. They also fear that closing post offices in Sheffield will take away a vital lifeline for many elderly residents who rely on the service.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Sheffield Central, said: -

"Local Post Offices are an important part of any community. We need to be safeguarding these assets rather than closing them, as this Labour Government seems intent on. I have real concerns for many elderly people in our area who look on their local Post office as a lifeline."

"A total of 46 Post Offices have closed in Sheffield since 1999 under Labour, many of them in Sheffield Central. We cannot afford to see any more of these valuable local resources closed. It seems that the closure programme is getting closer to Sheffield, but I will be campaigning against any closures in Sheffield that are proposed in this new Labour plan."

"If, instead of initiating a further round of cuts, the Government were to adopt Liberal Democrats plans for the Post Office then they would be able to invest an additional £2 billion in the network and safeguard the future of local post offices for years to come."