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

Braintree MP Brooks Newmark has reacted angrily to the latest round of Post Office closures announced toady.Braintree MP Brooks Newmark has reacted angrily to the latest round of Post Office closures announced toady.

Post Office Ltd. has announced plans to close three Post Offices in the Braintree area and is beginning a period of public consultation on the proposals. Branches in White Notley, Panfield Lane and Bocking Church Street are all under threat of closure.

Mr. Newmark said, "these proposals are deeply worrying for local people and I will continue to oppose them vigorously. The Post Office is the heart of many small communities and a vital resource for all, particularly the elderly. For many of those who live in rural areas local post offices are a lifeline, and the Government should be looking at supporting new services not cutting existing branches."

However, Mr. Newmark welcomed the news that Terling Post Office is not scheduled for closure, saying "this announcement is not all bad news for local people, but I am worried that the Post Office Network must, once and for all, be given a settlement which is sustainable in the long-term."

Two of the Post Offices, Panfield Lane and Bocking Church Street, became 'recipient offices' after the last round of closures, meaning that they took on business from other branches which have already been closed.

Mr. Newmark said, "the most worrying aspect of the plans is that other branches were closed on the condition that Bocking Church Street and Panfield Lane remained open. Now that they, in turn, are under threat many local residents will face a long and difficult journey to access basic services.

Under these proposals, residents in Bocking and the north of Braintree will have to travel to the George Yard shopping centre to visit a Post Office. I am concerned that some people will face a very difficult journey to George Yard and that there are potential problems with access and parking.

I will continue to fight for the preservation of both Post Office branches and existing services. The Government has passed the buck by seeking the closure of an arbitrary 2,500 branches but making Post Office Ltd. choose which ones. We still face a challenge of social and financial inclusion, and it is a challenge that the Government has not yet faced up to by giving adequate support to the Post Office network."

Photo: Essex MPs with Lord Hanningfield 'Fighting for Essex's Post Offices'