Post Office Campaign Needs the Backing of the Whole Community Say Lib Dems

2.56.27pm GMT Thu 17th Jan 2008

The Lib Dems' Campaign to Save Bedford's Post Offices is winning support from all parts of the community

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have called on the Borough Council to back the campaign to Save Bedford's Post Offices, following the accidental release of the government's hitlist of local post offices planned for closure.

The Lib Dems made the call prior to last night's full council meeting, where they proposed a "Save Bedford's Post Offices" motion, which was passed with amendments, in order to show a united front in the fight to prevent the closure of vital local branches.

Commenting on the issue, Liberal Democrat Cllr for De Parys Ward Cllr David Sawyer said:

"The fight to save our local post offices will be a long and difficult one, but it will be more effective if it has the backing of the whole community. All local political groups must back the campaign to Save Bedford's Post Offices to give us the best possible chance of forcing a rethink on the government's misguided, dangerous plans to rip essential local branches from the heart of our communities.'

"The only good thing to come out of the internet blunder, which revealed the list of local post offices identified for closure, was that we were able to begin the campaign early. Discussions with residents have revealed widespread opposition from all parts of the community to the plans to close local post offices. The resolve of local people to prevent these closures should not be underestimated, yet the support of other political groups is also vital to the campaign. We need to send a clear message to the government that its plans for a savage cull of local post offices will be resisted every step of the way here in Bedford Borough."