Lib Dem council launches scrutiny into post office closures

12.00.00am GMT Wed 14th Jan 2004

Liberal Democrat Islington council this week launched its own scrutiny into the future of local post offices and the impact that closures will have on local communities in Islington The scrutiny will look a number of issues including: ÿ the Post Office's plans for the location of branches in Islington. ÿ the views of residents who have communicated with Councillors and the Council on the impact closures would have on the community. ÿ to examine what the Council has done so far to assist local post offices and what further things it could do to assist them in future, taking into account the Council's existing Unitary Development Plan policy of actively supporting post offices. ÿ to look at what recommendations for action the Council might make to the Mayor of London and the Government to help local Post Offices to sustain their business and continue to support local communities. Liberal Democrat Councillors met last week with Post Office chiefs to discuss why yet more post offices in Islington are threatened with closure despite protests from residents, local Lib Dem councillors and the council. They also discussed the lack of real consultation over the closures, the need to consider both the north and south of the borough together rather than separately as proposed by the Post Office, the impact of closures in neighbouring boroughs and the need to make improvements to existing post offices. Commenting on the recent closures Liberal Democrat Councillor Laura Willoughby, Executive Member for Communities said: "Islington has already lost four of its post offices in recent months and now at least two more are under threat in Holloway. But small post offices like these are the heart of our community and are often a lifeline for the elderly and vulnerable. It will be a great loss for everyone if they do close. "Sadly, the post office's consultation has been a sham from the start and this is why we demanded to meet with the post office. I'll be doing all I can alongside local residents to persuade Post Office bosses to listen to Islington's needs, even if our Labour MPs have neglected them. We're also taking real action to support post offices by giving them more business such as allowing tenants to pay their rent and council tax there." Keith Sharp, Chair of the Regeneration Review Committee adds: "This scrutiny will be our chance to look into the importance of post offices to Islington and the impact that these closures will have. We know this is an issue that matters to many people in Islington which is why, unlike the Post Office, we want to hear residents' views."