Lib Dems condemn Post Office closures in Birmingham (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems condemn Post Office closures in Birmingham

August 28, 2008 10:56 PM

John Hemming MP and others outside Shaftmoor Lane Post Office

Liberal Democrats have condemned the announcement by Post Office Ltd that 25 Post Office branches will definitely be closing in Birmingham.

Liberal Democrats have condemned the announcement by Post Office Ltd that 25 Post Office branches will definitely be closing in Birmingham. Councillor Ayoub Khan (Aston Ward) said: "This is a huge blow to the city and a huge blow to both employees who are working in the branches and to those people who have relied upon the valuable services that the 25 closing Post Offices provide."

"It is very disappointed that just one solitary Post Office (The Green, Kings Norton) has been saved from the proposed list of closures. As it has been just over 3 weeks since the consultation ended, I would question how thoroughly Post Office Ltd went through all the consultation responses."

"Post Offices are a vital part of our neighbourhoods and and have an invaluable role to play in our city both commercially and socially."

As well as the 25 closures in Birmingham, it was confirmed that another 25 Post Office branches will close across Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire under the government-backed plans to "rationalise" the Post Office network.

Lib Dem MP Lorely Burt (Solihull) said she was "gutted" by the news and slammed the consultation process as a "cynical exercise".

Lorely Burt said: "I've no doubt Post Office officials are just doing what they are told. However, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for thousands of local people who did their best to save their local post office, only to have their efforts dismissed."

"What is the point of asking people for their views if you've already determined the outcome?"

The 25 Birmingham Post Office closures are: