"The Post Office is the "Heart of the Community" says Brooks

Brooks Newmark today welcomed the rally held by the National Federation of SubPostmasters at Westminster which called on the Government for urgent action to safeguard the nation's Post Office network.Brooks Newmark today welcomed the rally held by the National Federation of SubPostmasters at Westminster which called on the Government for urgent action to safeguard the nation's Post Office network.

Brooks met with Braintree SubPostmaster Vinod Popat, a past president of the NFSP, who had a simple message for local residents, "use us or lose us!" Brooks said, "Calling the Post Office 'the heart of the community' is more than just an empty slogan. For many of those who live in rural areas local post offices are a lifeline, and even in the Centre of towns like Braintree and Witham there are many people who depend on the essential services which they provide."

Under Labour around a quarter of the UK's Post Office network has closed and more cuts will happen as a result of Labour's plans to abolish the Post Office card account from 2010. This will deprive thousands of people vital services, often hitting the most vulnerable in society hardest.

Brooks has joined nearly 400 MPs who support the campaign to preserve the Post Office Card Account. During Monday's debate in the House of Commons he drew attention to a Post Office that "is at tipping point" before calling on the Government to "provide a framework for the future."

Highlighting the essential role that post offices play in many people's lives, Brooks told fellow MPs that, "we face a challenge of social and financial inclusion, and the Government are not doing anything about that." He also drew attention to the difficulty that many elderly people will have in accessing services like TV licences, which have been withdrawn from post offices in favour of online applications.

Brooks and the Conservatives have suggested a range of measures for safeguarding the future of the network. This includes freeing up SubPostmaters to allow them to provide a greater range of products and services. Brooks also believes that there is a range of central and local Government services which could be provided though Post Offices. These could help councils to better engage with local residents, ensure that vulnerable people have access to vital services and help to secure the long-term future of the Post Office network.

Brooks said, "I am delighted that so many people have attended this rally in support of a service which we should all cherish. It is long past time that the Government acts to preserve this vital institution instead of consistently undermining it by withdrawing essential services."

Photo:Brooks meets with Braintree SubPostmaster, and NFSP past president, Vinod Popat outside Westminster's own post office.