News story

9 November 2000

MP WELCOMES COUNCIL PLANS TO PROTECT VILLAGE POST OFFICES

Northavon MP Steve Webb has welcomed the proposal by the Executive Committee of South Gloucestershire Council to extend rate relief to embattled village shops and post offices in the local area. The recommendation, which was taken in principle by leading councillors on Monday (6th November) would mean that many village post offices will now qualify for 100% rates relief instead of the present 50%. This will be a welcome financial boost worth hundreds of pounds to many town and village sub-postmasters who have seen their livelihoods threatened by the Government’s plans to force people to have their benefits paid directly into bank accounts rather than in cash through an order book. Local MP Steve Webb, who has played a leading role in the campaign at Westminster to defend post offices, said:

“I am delighted that South Gloucestershire Council is planning to offer very practical support to our valued village post offices and shops. Whilst Central Government persists with policies which are undermining the very existence of the Post Office network, I am proud that our local council is doing what it can to support them”.

Earlier this week Steve Webb obtained figures from the Government which showed that the rate of Post Office closures nationwide had actually increased in this financial year. In the first six months of this year, 333 post offices had closed, compared with a figure of 382 for the whole of the previous year. Commenting on these figures, Steve Webb said:

"The accelerating pace of post office closures shows the price of Government inactivity. Sub postmasters are finding it increasingly difficult to find anyone to take on their business when they retire because of the threat which the Government has placed over their long-term future. It is time the Government stopped talking and acted while there is still a post office network left to defend".

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