Press Release from Mayor of London

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_rel ... seid=15733

Mayor threatens legal challenge to Post Office closures
19-2-2008 109

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone has condemned plans announced today to close 171 Post Offices in London. The Mayor confirmed he is considering a legal challenge by way of a judicial review regarding the consultation run by the Post Office.

The Post Office's consultation opened on the 19th February 2008 and will close on the 2nd April 2008, just six weeks. The Mayor believes the Post Office's consultation period should be extended to at least 12 weeks. Cabinet Office guidance state that 12 weeks minimum is good practice for public consultations.

The Mayor has previously highlighted the disproportionate effect of previous post office closures on the capital, the vital role of post offices for London’s local economy and communities and the real impact of cuts on local communities and millions Londoners.

Ken Livingstone said,

"I have taken legal advice on the feasibility of a legal challenge to today's announcement that 171 Post Offices will be closing in London and the Post Office’s consultation.

‘The Post Office have said they will consult for just six weeks over the closure proposals rather than the normal 12 weeks which the Government recommends as a minimum.

'London's Post Offices provide vital support for those who are most in need, particularly the elderly, disabled and those with young children. For many Londoners who do not have access to a bank account, the Post Office is an amenity they cannot do without.

‘I believe we need more, not fewer, Post Offices in London. I will be writing to the Post Office informing them of my intention to launch a legal challenge to their decision.â€

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM ... TRJ99sUeqA

17 hours ago

The Government has been accused of "fiddling" consultation over Post Office closures in London to avoid the final list of cuts being published until after May's assembly and mayoral elections.

The Conservatives said the Post Office has named 169 branches across London earmarked for closure under its programme of cuts. But the Tories said the final announcement will not be made until June, "conveniently" after the elections.

According to the Tories, the list of closures shows that a series of marginal seats in the capital are facing 'savage' cuts. Shadow Minister for London Bob Neill said: "Labour are putting vast swathes of the London Post Office network under threat and putting people's livelihoods on the line, yet they will not reveal the final extent of Post Office cuts until after London's May elections."

[dvbuk55]

171 out of 2,500 they should be so lucky - not everyone has the public transport system that London enjoys - mind you it's typical.

[moon71]

OK i appreciate that some post offices need to be open, but i collected the post from a rural PO today, 12 items of post in the final 5:30 collection of which most could of fit in the post box. Royal Mail now makes these items be split into 3 bags, 1st class horizon, 2nd class horizon and other.
I'm up for service obligations but this is madness.

[andy2007]

OK i appreciate that some post offices need to be open, but i collected the post from a rural PO today, 12 items of post in the final 5:30 collection of which most could of fit in the post box. Royal Mail now makes these items be split into 3 bags, 1st class horizon, 2nd class horizon and other.
I'm up for service obligations but this is madness.

Post Offices do a lot more than just handle the Post. They provide all sorts of Services for the Community. There are still a lot of Pensioners for example, who go to the Post Office to use their card to get their Pension. Would you prefer them to go to the next Town or Village to do so?

The fact that it is a Rural Post Office explains why there was so little Mail, but it also means that there won't be an alternative one for several miles.

[Night Tonic]

Amazes me that Post Offices didn't get into being 'multi-banks' in rural locations. Often difficult to even find a cash machine for miles.

[jafferpants]

To any members of the public reading this about the po closures i say tough!!!. When we went on strike banging on about this and more we were called all sorts and told to accept things and get back to work,but now it's on their doorstep they dont like it. So my message to joe public is this. Accept things and get a good pair of walking shoes your going to need them.

[Lounge Lizard]

Amazes me that Post Offices didn't get into being 'multi-banks' in rural locations. Often difficult to even find a cash machine for miles.

The General Post Office, as it then was, set up National Girobank in the late 1960s and it worked very well as the first bank most villages and other such communities had ever seen - that is until it was sold off to Alliance & Leicester under the Thatcher government.