Post Office closures

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Sep 2007

Consulting on possible Post Office closures will commence in May 2008. It is expected that at least 2,500 post offices across the country will close. This means that some in Rochdale may be under threat. At this stage Post Office bosses are refusing to speculate where they plan to close.

Paul Rowen MP said: "I still remember how let down residents were in August 2005, when Post Offices were shut in places like Hurstead and Stevenson Square. With one in five post offices nationwide set to shut it is unlikely that Rochdale will escape. Along with many local people, I have been campaigning against the post office closure plans and will now be stepping up the fight once again. Although we don't know as yet where they plan to close - I ask anybody who relies on Post Office services to join us in signing our Online Petition."

Councillors have been asked to take part in the initial consultation. They have been asked to look at:

Regeneration and development plans in your local authority area.

Proposed new settlements.

Major road schemes likely to have a material impact on accessibility between communities

Significant public transport changes including enhancements, new provisions and likely withdrawal of key services.

Council Leader - Alan Taylor said, "I will be encouraging all our Councillors to have their say in this opening consultation. With our huge expansion plans in Rochdale with the redevelopment of our Town Centre and of course Kingsway Business Park, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to close any of our existing Post Offices. I will be instructing this Council to make a strong case against any future closures."

You can sign an Online Petition to show your support for Rochdale's existing Post Offices at:

www.libdems.org.uk/commerce/issues/postoffice.html