New Threat To Remaining Post Offices In Bolton Thanks To Gordon Brown

New threat to remaining Post Offices in Bolton thanks to Gordon Brown

Loss of Post Office Card Account threatens more post office closures

Bolton North East faces a second wave of post office cuts, Deborah Dunleavy, the Conservative Parliamenatry Candidate, warned this week. A further 1 in 4 post offices could close down, on top of existing plans to possibly close another 2.

Bolton North East has already suffered a reduction in Post Offices since 1999 from 19 to 12.

·         Loss of Post Office Card Account: The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters has stated that 3,000 post offices will forced to close if the Post Office Ltd loses its contract for the Card Account. The Card Account is used by 4 million people each week to access pensions and benefits.

·         Further 1 in 4 post offices under threat: Card Account transactions bring in 12 per cent of sub-post offices’ income, and 1 in 4 of all visits made to post offices each week are by Card Account customers. The Federation has estimated that another 3,000 post offices will go out of business – on top of the current round of 2,500 cuts nationwide – if they lose the right to handle state pension and benefit payments.

·         Labour Government to blame: The current Post Office Card Account contract ends in 2010. Gordon Brown’s Government is replacing it with a new contract (so-called ‘POCA2’), but due to EU rules, it has to put the new contract out to competitive tender. Conservatives have repeatedly called on the Government to continue the Card Account beyond 2010.

Miss Dunleavy commented:

“I am very concerned about Gordon Brown’s plans for a second wave of post office cuts. A cloud of uncertainty now hangs over our vital community services. The future of Saturday deliveries is in doubt and local post offices are closing by the week across the country. Our postal service faces death by a thousand cuts – thanks to Gordon Brown.”

“Only this week I drove past Turton Post Office, which has a sign outside saying – Closed due to Post Office closures – thankyou for your support – what a sad state of affairs!”

Miss Dunleavy went on to say “ Unlike Mr Crausby the current Labour Member of Parliament, had I been representing the constituency, I certainly would not of voted for closures”