Fight to save oldest post office (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Fight to save oldest post office

3:30pm Thursday 17th July 2008 in

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POLITICIANS and community groups have started their fight to save Harpenden’s 120-year-old post office from closure.

Last week the Post Office announced its plans to close the town's branch on Station Road North - making it the sixth post office in the district under threat.

Political parties are putting aside their differences in a bid to rescue Harpenden's longest serving post office.

MP for Hitchin and Harpenden Peter Lilley said: “The post office is much more than a commercial operation.

"Taking one away from a village is like taking the heart out of a community.

“It is particularly tough on the elderly and the least well off in towns as well as villages.

"If they have to travel further to get the services they rely on, some of them will suffer great inconvenience.”

Liberal Democrats are calling on the community to ‘fight the closure with hearts and minds’ and are urging local people to sign their petition and to write to the Post Office consultation with their objections.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Nigel Quinton added: “There is absolutely no justification for these latest cuts by this Labour Government.

"The total savings across the country will amount to just £45 million - the post office board between them cost us £9 million last year in salary and bonuses alone.

“And it seems these cuts will not be the last - Labour’s “access criteria” suggest the country only needs” 7,500 branches, suggesting there will be another 4000 closures even after these swingeing cuts go through.”

Despite the poor public turnout at last week’s meeting to discuss St Albans’ closures, Councillor Chris Brazier, portfolio holder for Planning and Conservation, maintained the meeting was still a success as it demonstrated strong cross-party support from councillors, St Albans Parliamentary candidates and MP Anne Main.

Cllr Brazier is working with Mr Lilley and Harpenden Town Council to arrange a similar meeting for Harpenden.

Meanwhile the Cabinet agreed to challenge the Post Office Ltd’s Area Plan Proposal and the subsequent closure of five local post offices within the St Albans area.

Two written responses will be submitted to the Post Office Ltd’s ‘Network Change Programme’, one for the St Albans Parliamentary Constituency area to be submitted by July 28 and the second for the Harpenden and Hitchin Parliamentary Constituency area by 26 August.