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Liberal Democrat mourns loss of Post Offices in North East Somerset - 1st June '08 |
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Residents in Wansdyke and North East Somerset were told on Thursday that none of the post offices on the list for closure will be saved in spite of hundreds of letters and petitions sent into the consultation.
Gail Coleshill outside Farmborough Post Office with residents.
Lib Dem Parliamentary hopeful Gail Coleshill said: “Although I can celebrate with Bath residents that two of their post offices have been saved I am bitterly disappointed that none in North East Somerset have been reprieved and am also worried that more might now be on the danger list. “In villages like Farmborough the nearest post office is a long walk along a road with no footpath. In Marksbury it will necessitate getting lifts and a car journey. Many elderly people and young mums have relied on the post office in their village and I can see this being one more factor to drive them out and turn our villages into dormitories for working people” “In Keynsham the Labour MP Dan Norris said he supported the campaign to keep Queen's Road Post Office open but either he has little influence with the Government – or he didn’t try very hard. Contrast that with Bath where the Lib Dem MP Don Foster has succeeded in keeping two post offices open. North East Somerset clearly needs a Lib Dem MP. On the post offices on the list for closure include Clandown and Bathford where the post office has helped keep the village shops open, Newton St Loe where there is no convenient public transport to the next nearest, East Harptree where the Post Office is an essential service in a village where the nearest post office is miles away down country lanes and Bitton where again it will be the elderly, mums and the most vulnerable in society who will suffer most.
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