Protest village invites PM
Aug 16 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal
THE Prime Minister has been invited by a tiny Northumberland village to discuss the planned closure of the local post office.
The action committee set up to oppose the closure of the branch in Humshaugh, near Hexham, has written to Mr Brown asking him to visit the village and see for himself the effect the closure would have.
The community has even offered Mr Brown the use of the parish hall to discuss the issue with his Cabinet.
Dick Moules, a member of the committee and the parish council, sent the letter to 10 Downing Street using the post office. He said the village was throwing down the gauntlet to Mr Brown and his Cabinet to engage with the public.
Mr Moules said: “Post Office Ltd got so many things wrong when they assessed Humshaugh Post Office for closure and that’s the point we are trying to get over to them and to Gordon Brown.
“Surely there will be a statistician in the cabinet who will ask why Post Office Ltd underestimated Humshaugh’s population by 100%, why 62% of the villagers won’t be able to use the mobile service, why 80% will make the 12-mile round trip to Hexham instead and why the village shop and post office has a death sentence hanging over it when 100% of the population want to keep it.
“The strength of feeling and the sense of injustice felt by the people of Humshaugh have been immense.
“I hope we get a response but really the point we are trying to make is that the Government has totally underestimated the strength of feeling that there is around the country.”
Last week about 160 people protested against the closure, demonstrating in the main street and starting the walk to the next nearest branch, four miles away.
Villager Steve Robins said: “If they accept the invitation, Cabinet members will be able to talk to the likes of 92-year-old John Bradshaw, who rode to the demo on his pedal tricycle.
“They’ll be able to explain to a young people’s music theatre group, just back from the Edinburgh Fringe, why they’ll no longer be able to top up their phones in the village shop.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said he was yet to receive the letter.
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