Liberal Democrats - fighting to save our post office network

The Post Office network is crumbling.

Over the last two decades, post offices have been closing at a rate of over 300 a year.

Under the last Conservative Government, 3,500 local post offices closed, and under Labour another 4,000 have closed, hitting communities across the country.

Here in Edinburgh North & Leith, a number of important local branches have closed including Comely Bank, Newhaven, Pilrig Toll and Goldenacre.

The likelihood is that, while the Government ducks the long term decisions necessary to secure the future of Post Offices, 12,000 post office branches will close.

Post Offices are the lifeblood of communities in both rural and urban areas, particularly when they are combined with other services, such as the local shop. When the local post office closes other services often follow suit, which can be devastating for the community.

It is vital that the true social value of this network is included as well as its economic value when looking at the long-term future of this valuable network.

Why post offices are important

Research for Postwatch in 2004 showed that:

•75% of those surveyed felt their local post office was 'extremely important'

•59% thought it was 'essential to their way of life'

•91% agreed it played an 'important role in their local community'

•86% felt that losing a Post Office means 'a lot of people lose their independence'

•27% found it difficult to get to another post office when their local one closed

These figures increased among the elderly or those with disabilities affecting their mobility.

Action is needed by the Government now to prevent the mass closure of post offices occurring.

What the Liberal Democrats would do

The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have a costed and credible set of proposals to keep post offices open and, where necessary, to open others.

The Liberal Democrat plan would enable us to:

•Open new post office branches where they are needed

•Keep the Post Office in the public sector

•Make the Royal Mail into a successful company, with new investment freedoms

•Give Royal Mail staff a guaranteed stake in their company through employee share holding and participation

•Protect and improve the service to customers that provides a daily delivery at a uniform price across the country