Melton Post Office

8.55.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 5th Aug 2006

It is reported that Melton people, especially the elderly, are most unhappy about the threatened move of their Post Office. Grahame Hudson, our 2005 PPC, has written a letter to the Melton Times outlining the Lib Dem point of view. Local member, Davan Williams, says "A point to bear in mind is that the centre of Melton is pedestrianised, so safe. A move out to Scalford Road signifies crossing the very busy A607. On market days, Tuesdays and Fridays, the traffic into and around Melton is extremely heavy." The LibDems have a petition supporting Post Offices which can be accessed at-

http://www.libdems.org.uk/commerce/issues/

The background paper outlining our policy can be accessed at -

http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/RoyalMail2006.pdf

The letter Grahame wrote said -

"Your campaign to stop the Midlands Co-op moving the Bell Centre Post Office to the Co-op in Scalford Road has successfully highlighted the continuing threat to our rural Post Office network.

"Between March 2001 and June 2005 the East Midlands lost 267 branches, representing 19% of the total across the region. Years of neglect under successive Conservative and Labour governments has left the network in a parlous state. The proposed withdrawal of the Post Office Card Account poses a further threat to our village Post Offices and many voters in our constituency have signed the petitions against this proposal organised by the people who operate these vital links in our local communities.

"The Liberal Democrats adopted a new policy for the future of the rural Post Office network at this year's Spring Conference in Harrogate, which guarantees new investment and will help to maintain and develop the network. A copy of this policy can viewed via the link on our web site at www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk. It is clear that the current Labour government has no interest in protecting our rural communities and the Post Offices that serve them. It is time to consider a real alternative solution."