Lib Dem Campaigners In Battle To Save Post Offices

2.12.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th May 2004

On Saturday May 1st, Susan Kramer, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park, joined all three Ham Lib Dem councillors in an impromptu street protest against plans by the Post Office Ltd to close both of Ham's post offices at 299 Richmond Road and 10 Back Lane.

Susan Kramer PPC, "The Post Office Ltd has just told us that they plan to close three post offices in the Constituency, including two in Ham and one on Barnes High Street. Last Saturday I spoke to many people in their 70s and 80s for whom the news is devastating, especially in Ham which will not have a single post office unless we get this stopped. These older residents can just manage the walk to the local post office but cannot possibly go farther."

"My husband and I have a small business based in an office in Barnes High St. and we use the post office all the time. Post Office Ltd. Simply does not understand that small businesses need a post office to nip into and don't have the staff to send 20 or 30 minutes away. For both Barnes High St. and Ham Parade these closures will be a real blow."

Within hours of the news breaking, Ham Lib Dem Cllr Sir David Williams started printing leaflets protesting against the proposed closures, and urging the public to write to the Head of Area of the Post Office Ltd, to object in the strongest possible terms. Over the weekend Susan Kramer PPC joined all three Lib Dem councillors in Ham including Cllr Williams to hand them out to the public as part of a major new campaign to protect these important community facilities."

Jenny Tonge MP, "The proposed closure of these three post offices is shortsighted to say the least. Hundreds of post offices are being closed each year throughout the country, and over the next few years the Labour Government are expected to close another 3000. It seems that the Government is more than happy to finance post office closures, but will not intervene to keep them open."

"The post office is a community facility, which is as important as schools, libraries, and pharmacies, all things many of us take for granted. What kind of a community are we going to be left with if whenever something isn't quite as profitable as we might like it to be we close it down. If this is the Government's attitude to community facilities, than this is something people should be seriously worried about. I for one will be lending complete support to local people in Barnes and Ham who are battling against these proposed closures."

On a more positive note, after much pressure from Jenny Tonge MP, local Lib Dem councillors Jane Arneil and Serge Lourie, Susan Kramer PPC, and members of the public, the Post Office Ltd have finally stated that they are about to appoint a new post master in Kew, albeit at a different set of premises.

Any one wishing to object to the proposed closures in Barnes and Ham should write to: Paul Simmonds, Head of Area, Post Office Ltd, C/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW