PM snubs invitation to discuss post office axe

Sep 5 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

Consultation labelled a sham

EARLIER this week, The Journal exclusively revealed 80 North East post offices were to close, despite strong resistance from the public.

A six-week consultation by Post Office Ltd on the future of 81 offices in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham finished in July. Just one office, in Blackhall Mill was saved.

Residents in the affected communities had staged protests against the closures. And the 80 sub-postmasters and communities who had fought to save their local post offices have questioned the legitimacy of the consult- ation period, claiming the decision was a “done deal” from the outset.

Reacting to news of the closures, Berwick MP Alan Beith said: “This whole consultation was a complete sham from the start.

“They are closing very busy post offices to create more business for these new mobile offices.”

Meanwhile, West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong, said the move was a huge disappointment.