Surrey County Conservatives

Spelthorne’s Conservatives continue to stand up for local Post Offices (22nd January)

Carol Coleman asked for the County Council to play a full part in the forthcoming local public consultation for Surrey, and received an assurance from the Executive Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, Christine Stevens, that SCC would do so.

Speaking afterwards Mrs. Coleman remarked, “local people will be glad to know that the County Council are continuing to take the issue of Post Office closures seriously. Spelthorne’s residents are very concerned about the possible loss of coverage if branches close because they value the services that their local Post Offices provide. My fellow Conservative councillors and I will continue to make the case for keeping branches open”.

Denise Saliagopoulos raised questions as to the openness of the consultation process, stating that despite 3 sub-postmasters being informed that their branches may be at risk of closure the public had not been informed as to which ones they were. “Public consultation must be that, public. If local people are to play a full part in any consultations they need the facts available, and I hope that when the local public consultation begins the fullest amount of information will be available”.

Mrs. Stevens, responding, commented, “the public will be particularly concerned if their local branch is threatened. I can also understand the additional uncertainty if the public are aware that local branches are threatened but are unsure as to which ones those are.

I shall be writing to the Post Office to make it clear that any proposed closures would cause concern amongst local people and request that they provide the public with as much information as possible throughout the consultation process”.

Speaking during the meeting, Denise Turner-Stewart said, “unnecessary pressure had been placed on sub-postmasters through this practice, yet they have all continued to provide an essential service to already excessive catchment areas despite the knowledge that they are likely to close”.