Kimbolton Road Post Office Saved - For Now

11.10.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jul 2008

Cllr David Sawyer has welcomed the news that Kimbolton Road Post Office has been removed from the list of local branch closures announced today, but has slammed the Labour Government for its closure programme which has seen 8 other branches in Bedford Borough included in the closures list

The post office situated in the Budgens store on Kimbolton Road in Bedford is not amongst the list of branch closures released today, despite having been included in the list published accidentally last year in an internet blunder. It is the only branch in Bedford Borough that has been removed from the original closures list. De Parys Lib Dems have led an intensive campaign to save the branch, in conjunction with post office staff and unions CWU and Unite.

De Parys Lib Dem Borough Cllr David Sawyer said: "I would like to thank the hundreds of local residents who signed our petitions, and expressed their deep concerns about the proposed removal of this vital service. However, every silver lining is tinged with a cloud, and we will need to remain vigilant for the reinstatement of this closure. The Labour Government shamefully remains determined to close 2,500 local post offices nationwide, and eight other local branches in Bedford Borough have today been included in this savage cull. They have let us off the hook this time, but they may have another go at closing our post office at any time in the future."

Parts of De Parys ward still remain under threat of losing their access to post office services. The post office at the Goldington Road/Newnham Avenue traffic lights is on the list of proposed closures which will also affect residents in Devon Park. The Liberal Democrats continue to campaign to Save Bedford's Post Offices.