One quarter of all post offices in Devizes closed since 1999
May 17, 2007 9:01 PM
Twelve post offices have been closed in the Devizes Constituency since 1999 leaving only thirty-three to serve local residents. This poor state of service reflects the national situation caused by the lack of support from both Conservative and Labour governments.
The Conservative record:
3,500 post offices closed during the Conservatives' time in office.
The Conservative government failed to take action to save the post office network. They had no plan to save the post office network and clearly did not realise the value of local post offices to local people.
This is something that has followed them into opposition. 10 years after being kicked out of government, the Conservatives still do not have a plan to save the post office.
The Labour record:
4,000 post offices have so far closed under Labour. They plan to close at least 2,500 more.
The Labour government has systematically withdrawn services from the Post Office. Last year the value of services withdrawn by the government equalled £168 million, whilst Post Offices Ltd made an operating loss of £111 million.
A lack of joined-up thinking from the government is largely responsible for the current post office crisis.
Lib Dem policy:
Our plan would give a real investment of £2 billion in the post office, would increase the services offered at local post office branches and improve the network so that every community that needs a post office gets one. We are the only party with a fully-funded plan to save the post office, give it a long-term future and not just manage its decline.
Our plan would see:
• £2 billion invested in post office branches;
• New branches opening where needed;
• Government services continuing to be available at the Post Office;
• The Post Office freed from Royal Mail restrictions to let it develop new business;
• A new legal requirement for the Government to maintain the local Post Office network.
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