Lib Dem outrage at new Post Office closure plans as Goswell Road joins Labour hit-list

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Jun 2008

Joe Trotter, Bridget Fox, Liz Smithson, Cllr George Allan, Cllr Ruth Polling, and Adrian Hall say Save Goswell Road Post Office

Liberal Democrat campaigners have expressed their outrage after Post Office bosses today revealed plans to close the popular Goswell Road post office.

The Post Office say this is the conclusion of a further review following the reprieve of other offices. But two earlier reviews of the borough's post offices - including one published in February this year - did not identify this branch for closure. Campaigners say this proves the branch is needed, and that the closure plan is simply to meet Government savings targets.

On 1st June, Pat McFadden MP, the Labour minister in charge of Post Offices told the BBC "three out of four post offices in the country are actually running at a loss and that's part of the reason why some are having to close."

Emily Thornberry MP failed to vote to stop Post Office closures

Let down by Labour

Controversial Labour MP Emily Thornberry notoriously described branch post offices like Goswell Road as 'just a counter in a shop'. Three months ago, Lib Dem MPs attempted to stop the closure programme: some Labour MPs rebelled (including Jeremy Corbyn) but Ms Thornberry voted them down.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Bridget Fox , who played a leading role in the successful campaign to save Essex Road post office from closure, says:

"Liberal Democrats have fought post offices closures at every stage, unlike Labour. This closure plan is a direct result of Government post office policy.

"Emily Thornberry has let down local people. Our post offices are not safe under Labour."

The local community is backing the Lib Dem campaign

Bunhill councillor and local resident Ruth Polling adds,

" Goswell Road post office is used by pensioners, small businesses and students alike: it's a vital local service.

"EC1 is supposed to be a regeneration area, but the Post Office just don't care: they are desperate to meet Government savings targets.

"This will have a devastating effect on our community."

The nearest post offices to Goswell Road are at Farringdon, Old Street and Mount Pleasant . They are each half a mile away with no direct bus routes from Goswell Road.

Unlucky 13?

If Goswell Road closes, it will be the 13th post office serving Islington & Finsbury residents to close under Labour. The others are:

Amwell Street N1

Archway N19,

Copenhagen Street N1

Holloway Road N19

Hornsey Road N4

Old Street EC1,

Southgate Road N1

St Peter Street N1

Westbourne Road N7,

Plus the latest closures

Blackstock Road N4

Caledonian Road N1

Caledonian Road N7

NOTE

1) Pat McFadden interview http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/7423039.stm

2) MPs voting record: Post Offices http://tinyurl.com/6n3tdz