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Post office closure list revealed
MORE than 40 post offices in Cumbria are being earmarked for closure, it has been revealed today.
Post Office Ltd has announced its hit list of branches it wants to axe as part of the controversial Network Change programme, including 18 in the South Lakes, Furness and Eden districts.
A total of 45 post offices have been selected to shut in Cumbria, but Post Office bosses say ten of them would be replaced by a part-time 'Outreach' service.
However, none of the closures will be confirmed until the end of a six-week consultation' period.
This will be suspended in the run-up to local elections that are taking place on May 2 and will end on May 27.
If confirmed, the closures will leave Cumbria with 226 post office branches, including ten outreach services.
Post Office bosses say the proposals mean 98.5 per cent of the county's population "will see no change or will remain within one mile of an alternative branch".
Richard Lynds, Post Office Ltd's network development manager, said: "Rural parts of Cumbria - where 62.1 per cent of the population live - would be served by a total of 190 branches."
The Post Office's detailed Area Action Plan can be viewed at www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange/
For the full post office closure story plus reaction see The Westmorland Gazette on Friday.
11:33am Tuesday 18th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ken Ronald, Penrith on 11:41am Tue 18 Mar 08
There is a debate on Wednesday 19th March in the House of Commons on Post Office closures. Will the Labour MPs who are campaigning to retain Post Offices vote against the government? Will they abstain.I think we should know how our MP has voted in this debate. The first since May 2002 when Labour pushed throught these nationwide closures
There is a debate on Wednesday 19th March in the House of Commons on Post Office closures. Will the Labour MPs who are campaigning to retain Post Offices vote against the government? Will they abstain.I think we should know how our MP has voted in this debate. The first since May 2002 when Labour pushed throught these nationwide closures
Posted by: Rufus T Firefly, Kendal on 11:22pm Thu 20 Mar 08
As far as I know both David MacLean MP (Conservative, Penrith and the Border) and Tim Farron MP (Lib Dem, Westmorland and Lonsdale) voted to support the Conservative proposal to delay Post Office Closures...as of course did many Labour MPs.
I am naturally a cynic, however, and therefore I am not at all surprised that our local MPs took this stance, especially given that they are members of opposition parties. It is easy to be populist when you have no responsibility for the issue. However, I think the Labour rebels should be commended for standing up for what they believe and for their communities.
As far as I know both David MacLean MP (Conservative, Penrith and the Border) and Tim Farron MP (Lib Dem, Westmorland and Lonsdale) voted to support the Conservative proposal to delay Post Office Closures...as of course did many Labour MPs.
I am naturally a cynic, however, and therefore I am not at all surprised that our local MPs took this stance, especially given that they are members of opposition parties. It is easy to be populist when you have no responsibility for the issue. However, I think the Labour rebels should be commended for standing up for what they believe and for their communities.
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