Harriett Baldwin, Parliamentary Candidate West Worcestershire, reacted with grave concern today at Government plans to close 2,500 Post Offices across the country, on top of the 4,000 already shut since 1999.
The cuts will start next summer. In West Worcestershire, this could potentially mean the closure of six Post Offices, from the current level of 33. Five have already closed since 1999.
Harriett Baldwin said: "Post Offices are the lifeblood of rural communities in rural Worcestershire. But their future is now under real threat. These cuts will hit the vulnerable and the elderly the hardest. Labour Ministers need to recognise that if the local Post Office closes, often the last shop in the vicinity closes as well, and a van for a couple of hours a week is no replacement for a Post Office open full time.I have been in touch with all our local post offices in West Worcestershire and explained that the Conservatives have called for Sub-Post Offices to be given greater freedoms to offer a wider range of commercial products and are pushing for more Post Offices to be 'one stop shops' for central government services. These proposals have been welcomed."