PM snubs invitation to discuss post office axe

Sep 5 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

THE Prime Minister has turned down an invitation by residents of a Northumberland village to discuss the closure of the local post office.

A campaign group set up as an attempt to save the branch in Humshaugh, near Hexham, invited Gordon Brown north to chat with them about the closure programme.

And they even offered the PM the services of their village hall to hold a Cabinet meeting in Humshaugh.

The village was one of many across Northumberland to launch protests over plans to axe post offices.

Around 160 people gathered in a mass display of anger last month in the village’s main street.

But the protest was to no avail as the axe fell on the Humshaugh branch, alongside dozens of others in rural Northumberland.

And to add insult to injury, Gordon Brown and his Cabinet have turned down their invitation for a North away-day.

Parish councillor Dick Moules this week received a reply from Mr Brown’s office.

It read: “The Prime Minister is grateful to you for your kind invitation.” However, it added, it was inconvenient for the Prime Minister to attend.

It continued: “I am sorry to have to send a disappointing reply but the Prime Minister has asked me to pass on to you his very best wishes.”

Campaign group member Steve Robins said villagers were angry with the way the consultation process had been conducted and felt their views had been ignored throughout.

He said: “We are all very disappointed that Mr Brown won’t be sampling our hospitality and listening to our strong views.

“But we are even more disappointed that the village post office is to close, threatening the future of the only shop.

“Post Office Ltd has just been paying lip service to the consultation process and, after getting plenty of things wrong about our village, refused to listen to the facts.”

A mobile van service is to replace 24 rural branches in Northumberland and Durham, while a further 56 post offices in urban areas are to close as part of the widespread cull.

It is unknown what the exact timetable for the closures will be, but it is thought some could close by October.