Brooks condemns post office consultation result
Brooks Newmark has reacted angrily to confirmation that three branches in his constituency are scheduled for closure following a very brief public consultation by Post Office Ltd. Braintree MP Brooks Newmark has reacted angrily to confirmation that three branches in his constituency are scheduled for closure following a very brief public consultation by Post Office Ltd. There is no firm date for the closures, but it is thought they will happen as soon as early January.
Brooks has been campaigning against the closures since they were announced and has written to Postwatch to request a further review of changes that Post Office Ltd proposes to make to the branch network. However, following the conclusion of any such further review Post Office Ltd's decision is final and there is no further appeal procedure.
Brooks said, "the news that our community will lose three Post Office branches is extremely worrying. Post Office Ltd. has only altered its decision in three out of a list of 50 proposed closures and I think that the consultation process has been far too abrupt and has not been responsive to the concerns of local people. It is also a disgrace that sub-postmasters have been gagged by the Post Office under threat of losing their compensation packages.
A large number of local people have worked hard to prove that these branches were both viable and essential to our community and I pay tribute to their efforts. I find it ironic and disappointing that the Government has plenty to say on encouraging financial inclusion while also being ultimately responsible for forcing through these closures. The Government has already proved that it's good at losing things in the post and, unsurprisingly, the Government is the real villain in the sorry tale of Post Office closures."
In a debate on financial inclusion in the House of Commons today Brooks said:
"Today is a very sad day for many of my constituents in Braintree, as Post Office Ltd has confirmed the impending closure of three branches, in White Notley, Bocking Church Street and Panfield Lane.
The closures have gone ahead despite all the hard work of Parish and District Councillors and the residents who have relied upon post office services to save the branches.
So we might be forgiven for thinking that in some areas, despite the Government's plans for investment in financial inclusion, things on the ground are actually slipping backwards.
