BISHOP'S STORTFORD: MP calls on PM to save post office

12:47pm Thursday 28th August 2008

BISHOP’S Stortford MP Mark Prisk has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a last-ditch attempt to save the Havers post office from closure.

Mr Prisk has enclosed a petition signed by more than 1,600 people calling for the branch to be saved from the axe in the latest round of Post Office closure proposals.

In his letter, Mr Prisk writes: “The Havers Parade Post Office is a much valued local service at heart of the poorest area in the town.

“It has the second highest proportion of social housing in our district; 20 per cent of the population do not own a car; and many of those affected have a limiting long-term illness. Thus to close this branch would mean affecting the most vulnerable in our community.

“My constituents believe that compulsorily closing 2,500 post offices, after the 4,000 that have already closed since 1997 is the wrong approach. They believe, as I do, that we should instead be freeing these local businesses to enable them to widen their services and so remain viable into the future.”

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