Liberal Democrats urge Council to deliver actions over Post Offices

10.37.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Mar 2008

Haringey Council should take a proactive approach to help Post Offices threatened with closure say local Lib Dems. In a motion, to be debated at the next Full Council meeting on 31st March 2008, Lib Dems request that the Council investigates whether new initiatives such as those pioneered by councils in Essex could be adopted in Haringey.

Essex County Council announced in early March that they were considering plans to take over post offices scheduled for closure. Since then, many other Council's throughout England have contacted Essex CC over their proposals to merge Council services with those delivered by the Post Office.

Cllr Neil Williams, Haringey Lib Dem Leader, comments:

"It is vital that we leave no stone unturned to ensure that our local Post Offices are saved. We are urging that the Council does everything in its power to support Haringey's Post Offices, open talks with the Post Office and look at plans from other Council that could be used.

"Post Offices are vital to strong local communities and a lifeline to older people, the disabled and those people on lower incomes - we cannot and will not give up without a fight."

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

"Haringey Council, for once, need to take the bull by the horns and fight tooth and nail for our vital local services.

"The Labour government has closed 4,000 Post Offices since 1997 and the Tories closed 3,500 - now it seems that local government needs to act to save a service central government has given up on."

ENDS

Full text of the Liberal Democrat motion

This Council, notes the unanimous cross-party support for emergency motion J passed by this Council on 18th February 2008 calling on the government to act to reverse plans to close Post Offices in Haringey.

Further notes the new and innovative plans by Essex County Council to rescue its Post Offices.

Believes that Haringey Council can also have a positive approach to help to save Post Offices in Haringey

And resolves to,

a) Look more closely at the Essex CC plans to see whether these may be adopted in Haringey.

b) Contact the Post Office to discuss options open to the Council and request financial information of threatened Post Offices.

c) Support threatened Post Offices by providing Council services in Post Offices in Haringey.