Brake appalled as Carshalton is hit hard by planned Post Office Closures

12.04.00pm GMT Tue 19th Feb 2008

Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat for Carshalton and Wallington, today expressed his outrage at the plans to close four post offices in his constituency.

All four closures come in the Carshalton area, they are; one in Wrythe Lane, one in Carshalton Road, one in Bishopsford Road and one in Seymour Road.

The closures will take place as part of the Post Offices Network Change Programme, approved by the Labour Government.

Commenting Tom said;

"The Tories closed over 3,500 Post Offices, New Labour are set to close 6,500 branches. Consumers must be asking themselves, how long is it until we have no permanent post office services here.

"I believe the government have missed a prime opportunity to modernise the network, rather than just close some branches, there are numerous other services which they could have offered through Post Offices, such as internet access or offering benefit advice making them more attractive to customers and profitable for the postmasters.

"We need a Post Office network that's fit for the future. This must include ease of access for all, which will certainly not be the case if more and more branches are shut and those that remain open suffer from huge queues.

"These closures will affect the most vulnerable who are unable to travel easily. We shouldn't treat vulnerable people this way in a modern society".

Residents who want to back Tom's campaign to save the Post Office network can sign his petition on-line in the 'Sign Our Petitions' section on his website tombrake.co.uk. Residents who want to object to the closures can do so by writing to Tom Brake MP, 5 Nightingale Road, Carshalton SM5 2DN by 31st March 2008 or emailing him via tombrake.co.uk. He will then submit these concerns to the Post Office.