MPs Launch Campaign to Save Post Office Network

10.15.42am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th Jul 2006

Cornwall's five Lib Dem MPs hand in a 5,000 signature petition calling on the Government to retain the Post Office Card Account and to properly fund the Rural Post Office Network

Cornwall's five Liberal Democrat MPs today launched their campaign to save the Cornish Post Office Network.

The MPs handed in a petition to Downing Street containing almost 5000 signatures of people from all over Cornwall, calling on the Government to maintain the rural Post Office Network as well as keep the Post Office Card Account beyond 2010 - the current cut off year.

In addition to the petition, the Liberal Democrat Team for Cornwall has also issued their report - 'Catching the Last Post?' - focusing on the future of Cornwall's Post Offices. The report is based on two surveys, conducted over the last four months, of Post Office Masters and Mistress as well as a customers' survey. Over 800 people responded to the customers' survey, which was heavily supported by Post Office Masters and Mistresses throughout Cornwall.

Commenting, Matthew Taylor MP (Truro and St Austell) said:

"This is an incredibly important issue that affects thousands of people living in rural areas of Cornwall; they rely on Post Offices to provide not only services, but also a keystone for their small communities."

Colin Breed, MP for South East Cornwall, added:

"We believe this is the most comprehensive survey of Post Offices in Cornwall to date. The strength of feeling over this issue amongst the public is very clear. Post Offices are at the very heart of rural communities and local people have rallied in their thousands to stop Government plans which could lead to severe erosion of Cornwall's Post Office Network."