Madeleine Kirk- Reporting Back on Post Office Summit

10.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th May 2008

Post Office network cannot withstand further round of closures

York Outer Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Madeleine Kirk joined campaigners from right across the country at a Post Office summit organised by the Local Government Association in London yesterday.

Madeleine Kirk has been campaigning with other Lib Dem councillors to save Post Offices across York- including Fulford Post Office which has recently closed.

The summit was attended by over 100 councillors and council officers and heard from speakers including representatives of Post Office Ltd about how local authorities can work to retain Post Offices as community assets.

On her return to York, Cllr Kirk said: "All of the speakers made it clear that the blame for the current round of closure of 2,500 Post Offices' rests firmly at the feet of this government.

"I heard from Paul Hook of the National Federation of Postmasters, who warned that if the remaining Post Office network of 11,500 were to fall any lower then it would no longer be viable due to economies of scale. I fear that this is something that could have a huge impact on both rural and urban parts of York in the future.

"I was disappointed that, although invited to do so, the Government refused to send a speaker. This is hardly surprising when you consider what an unpopular policy this is and how little confidence the public has in what they say these days."

"On a more positive note models of how some Local Authorities have entered into partnership agreements with Post Office limited which have evidenced real benefits for the community and I shall be discussing those with my colleagues in the Council as its vital that we act now if we are to survive potential further closures in 3 or 4 years time"