Leeds Liberal Democrats Welcome Government U-Turn on Post Offices
February 6, 2004 5:01 PM
Lib Dem Councillors Ralph Pryke (Burmantofts), Alan Taylor, and Andrew Tear (both Harehills) have welcomed the announcement made yesterday by Stephen Timms, Trade Minister, that the Post Office "Urban Reinvention Scheme" is flawed, and that the consultation process for closures had not been dealt with appropriately or with sufficient sensitivity.
Cllr Pryke said "It has taken 14 months for the Government to finally admit the closure programme, which is hitting Leeds hard, is a total fiasco".
"Leeds Council and other agencies are spending large sums of government money on urban development in areas like Gipton and Harehills, but local Post Offices - a key part of local communities - are being closed, with no prior notice to them.
"It's a scandal that all the local post offices in Gipton are being closed."
Cllr Taylor added "It didn't help that Leeds MPs voted for the closure programme, and it's doubly sad that Labour Councillors voted last year to welcome the moves "to enhance the services", which everyone knows is code for closure."
Cllr Tear said "The improvements outlined yesterday should make the process fairer in future, but the current closure programme should be halted to stop any more offices being closed.
"Having acknowledged that the urban closure programme is a fiasco, the DTI must now begin a review of the 680 closures that have happened, and take appropriate steps where necessary."
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