Lewes MP slams plans to close 7 post offices

7.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Nov 2007

"I believe we need more post offices where needed - not more closures." Norman Baker MP

Plans to close seven post offices across Lewes constituency have been met with bitter opposition by local MP Norman Baker.

Commenting on the planned closure Norman says, "Post offices play a vital role in our local communities. These closures will hit local people, especially older residents, very hard indeed. We intend to fight the planned closures and keep these post offices open"

The Government plans to close post offices in Seaford, Newhaven, Lewes, Polegate, Chailey and Upper Dicker. Local Liberal Democrats are fighting the closures. They are gathering a national petition to be presented at Downing Street in the New Year.

Norman adds, "Labour and Conservative governments have decimated our post office network. Only the Liberal Democrats have a plan to save our local post offices and to open new post offices when needed."

Councillor David Rogers campaigning at Mount Pleasant Post Office

David Rogers, Lib Dem councillor for Newhaven, which faces the closure of its Mount Pleasant Post Office says "This is devastating news for people in Denton and Mount Pleasant. Many people will now be faced with long journeys, and long queues at the town centre post office."

David Gray, Lib Dem campaigner in Landport Lewes, says "Customers come to Landport Post Office from as far as the village of Kingston and other rural areas because their post office has already closed. If these cuts go ahead customers would have to travel even longer distances to other post offices which can lead to queues and waits for service. Lewes Post Office often has queues out the door, how is it going to cope with all these new customers?"

Lib Dem councillor for Seaford Jon Freeman says "If two Post Offices close it doesn't just mean the loss of services to local people. The closure of Claremont Road would mean the other shops would suffer, while Fairways is the only shop in the area and provides a vital service to local people. The government talks about listening to local people, but pays little regard for the difficulty many people will face travelling into town to get to the post office."

Sign the Save Our Post Offices petition here: http://www.leweslibdems.org.uk/petitions/6/sign-new.html