GOVERNMENT FAILS TO LISTEN ON POST OFFICES, SAY Woking LIB DEMS

Liberal Democrats in Woking have hit out at the government's failure to listen to the concerns of people in Woking over post office closures. The Government announced Thursday 17th May that they will continue with their plan to close at least 2,500 post offices across the country. It is planned that the Main Post Office in the Market will close and a post office facility will be provided in WHSmiths.

Woking Liberal Democrats have been campaigning against post office closures in Woking and are today stepping up the fight against the Government's plans.

The Government have not published the list of post offices to be closed, but with one in five post offices nationwide set to shut it is unlikely that Woking will escape. Cllr Ian Johnson, councillor for Mount Hermon West has put a Motion before the Council on hearing that the main Post Office in Woking will be transferred to be part of the W.H.Smith store in the Autumn. He says

" Lib Dems are concerned that this will be a cut in service and will pose accessability problem for pensioners. It will also affect the viabiliyty of the Market"

Local Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman, Rosie Sharpley said,

"It is outrageous that the Government have ignored the concerns of local people and are continuing with their plan to close at least 2,500 post offices. That means we could lose yet more post offices here in Woking

Hermitage, Old Woking and Pyrford are but three of Post Offices that have closed in Woking since 1999. We cannot afford see more of these valuable local resources closed.

"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.

"The Conservatives have nothing to offer our post offices. Only the Liberal Democrats have a fully-funded plan to save the post office."