Councillors vote to fight post office closures

Published on Friday 22 August 2008 10:59

THE city council has officially condemned plans to axe 13 Edinburgh post offices and has vowed to support all local communities in the fight to save them.

The Lib Dem/SNP administration said it will also examine ways to maximise the range of council services available in the outlets to help ensure their survival.

Councillors united against Labour politicians, and criticised Edinburgh South MP Nigel Griffiths in particular after he distributed a leaflet claiming 11 out of 11 post offices have been saved – even though the Warrender Park branch in his constituency is on the hitlist.

Lib Dem councillor Conor Snowden said: "The latest round of post office closures are another painful cut on services, which have a great and detrimental impact on all our communities.

"We are making it clear to Royal Mail that we would like these closures reversed."

SNP councillor Nick Elliott-Cannon added: "Local Edinburgh MPs Nigel Griffiths and Mark Lazarowicz all voted for this.

"We will expose the enormity of their hypocrisy."

The UK Government voted to close 2500 branches nationwide because new technology and changing lifestyles mean people are visiting post offices less.

More than 20 branches have already closed in Edinburgh since 2001.

The council has now agreed to respond to each Royal Mail consultation and oppose all closures wherever that is the opinion of local residents. The administration also voiced concerns that closures will not be on a voluntary basis, but "will instead be determined on a compulsory basis".