Government misleading local Post Offices and the public? (Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats)

Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats <office@eastbournelibdems.org.uk>

Government misleading local Post Offices and the public?

July 3, 2007 8:00 AM

Despite promises by the government to Sub-Postmasters that customers would be able to open new Post Office card accounts up to 2010, a local Post Office has discovered this is not the case.

Mr Norman Russell, Sub-Postmaster of the Rodmill Post Office said: "One of my customers told me last week that when she had called the DWP (Department of Work & Pensions) to open a new Post Office card account, she was informed this was no longer possible. I am outraged the government are backsliding on their promise. We were told that new card accounts could be opened for at least another few years."

Stephen Lloyd, Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner, added: "I appreciated Mr Russell contacting me with this information and I will be writing to the new Secretary of State demanding clarification. The government cannot promise one thing publicly and then quietly do something completely different. Post Offices are part of the very fabric of community life and I am extremely angry that such an excellent Post Office as the Rodmill is being undermined in such an underhand manner. It is clear to me that there are cuts on the way to our Post Office network in Eastbourne. I and my colleagues on the Borough Council will fight the closures every inch of the way.