Government fails to listen on Post Offices

7.51.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd May 2007

Liberal Democrats in Maidstone & The Weald have hit out at the government's failure to listen to the concerns of people in Maidstone & The Weald over post office closures. The Government announced last Thursday that they will continue with their plan to close at least 2,500 post offices across the country.

Maidstone & The Weald Liberal Democrats have been campaigning against post office closures in Maidstone and the surrounding towns and villages. Today they are 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 Maidstone & The Weald will escape.

Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Rebecca Hunt, 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 Maidstone & The Weald. Along with many local people, I have been campaigning against the Government's post office closure plans and will now be stepping up the fight once again.

"Five post offices have closed in Maidstone & The Weald since 1999. We cannot afford to 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. 3,500 post offices were closed during the Conservatives' time in office. Only the Liberal Democrats have a fully-funded plan to save them."

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