Action on Post Offices

Conservatives in Flintshire have been fighting hard for local post offices threatened with closure. A number of Conservative County Councillors and Antoinette Sandbach our parliamentary candidate attended a recent meeting held by the Post Office, Post Watch and the Federation of Sub Postmasters with Community Councillors from across North East Wales.

Antoinette raised her concerns that the consultation period was being held during the summer holidays when families were away and community councillors traditionally did not hold meetings. Many had not been notified of the meeting, and once again not a single Labour MP from North Wales attended the event.

The representative of the Federation of Sub Postmasters explained that it was Government policy which was driving the closures and the withdrawal of £168 Million of Government business had plunged the network into debt from a position of profit.

Antoinette speaking after the meeting said "It is clear that Post Offices are the soul of many communities, the Postmistress is often the first person to notice when a pensioner has failed to pick up their pension. When fuel prices are rising it is madness to require people to get into their cars and drive miles to access services, and this will hit hardest the most vulnerable who rely on public transport.

Labour's arrogance in refusing to consider options which could make the network profitable is typical of this Government which is interested only in its own agenda and refuses to listen to local people. Over a third of the network has now been closed by Labour, it is a disgrace.''