Local post offices threatened

6.16.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 21st Feb 2008

Frances Amrani and Jonathan Chatfield are campaigning to save local Post Offices

Local Post Offices are under attack from a concerted government policy to erode their business network.

Horningsea Post office closed in 1993 and Fen Ditton village has been without a post office since 2005, with even the Barnwell branch closing in 2006. Quy and Great Wilbraham are lucky enough to still have working post offices. Local Lib Dems want to make sure we keep them.

The Liberal Democrats have been campaigning against post office closures for many years. The government claims that the Post Office network's financial losses result from 'people...increasingly choosing to live their lives in different ways'. But Post Office Ltd's problems have been increased by losing government business on passports, TV licences, car tax discs and pensions and benefits, together worth over £168 million.

Local campaigner Frances Amrani commented, "Not everyone has access to the Internet and for many people the Post Office is an important focal point of village life.

The Conservatives have not put forward any policy as to how they would actually save the post office network. The Lib Dems on the other hand have a fully costed plan.