Local Post Office Closures Confirmed

8.24.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Sep 2008

Busy and finacially viable St Mary's Field Post Office - a victim of the Post Office's closure programme

St Mary's Field Post Office is to close despite the huge expression of support from local residents. The Post Office at Mitford which was closed temporarily will not now reopen. Post Office Ltd has ignored the arguments made by angry residents and local representatives against these closures when they were announced on 1st July 2008. There was also a petition signed by 1752 people which was presented to Post Office Ltd by the local MP. The Post Office has been under remit from the Government to close 2,500 branches across the country. Only 1 Post Office out of 57 proposed branch closures in the North East has been saved which demonstrates that the so-called 'consultation' has been largely an exercise in 'going through the motions', with decisions already having been made. In addition to providing postal services, branches are often a vital focus for local communities, but the value of this role seems to have been largely ignored in Post Office's insensitive closure programme.

Liberal Democrats have been fighting very hard to oppose closures right across the country. Local Lib Dem councillors have tried to persuade the Post Office against making these closures. In a separate but related issue they have also linked with other local representatives to press the Post Office to find a replacement for the main Morpeth town centre branch in Back Riggs which is due to close in October when the Co-op's franchise ends and the premises is redeveloped. Hopefully there is to be an announcement soon that a solution has been found to ensure continuity of service.