Post office "massacre" condemned

7th May 2008

Davey to press for urgent re-opening of Tolworth Broadway PO and new guarantees on queue times

News that Post Office Limited has decided to press ahead with closing 6 post offices in Kingston Borough has been greeted with dismay and anger by Kingston and Surbiton's Liberal Democrat MP, Edward Davey.

A major campaign to save local post offices has received all party support across Kingston, as well as the backing of the local council, local newspapers and thousands of local residents.

Two public meetings and a massive petition presented to the House of Commons, coupled with a detailed submission by Edward Davey to Post Office Limited's consultation team, failed to budge the Post Office.

Edward Davey said:

"The Government is massacring Kingston's post office network.

"They are pressing ahead not just in the face of our united opposition, but also of our strong and valid arguments.

"Labour used to claim they were concerned about social exclusion and strong communities, but their closures of post offices will damage our communities and leave countless local pensioners and disabled people without a service.

"I predict they will be queuing out of the door at the main post offices at Kingston and Surbiton when they finally shut these offices.

"Unfortunately, Kingston is not alone in seeing Post Office Limited disregard our arguments, and almost every London post office earmarked for closure is going ahead.

"Despite this scandalous decision, I'm determined we do all we can to fight for better local post office services. So I've pressed the Post Office again, for a date for the re-opening of a post office on Tolworth Broadway, which they continually promise but don't deliver. I'm also writing to demand new guarantees about minimum queueing times at the remaining post office branches."