Smart challenges Government to ensure local post offices are supported

Stockport MP Lisa Smart quizzed the Government over the recent Post Office closures, to demand that postmasters were given the support they need to keep local services open, after the announcement of more cuts and redundancies by Post Office Ltd. 

She referred the Minister to the two post offices – High Lane and Hazel Grove – which were already closing, at least in part because of the commercial pressures on the postmasters. 

She said: “Will the Government take this opportunity to look at how to strengthen the role of post offices in our communities, offering even more local services, and opening up new funding opportunities to keep these vital services in our communities?”

She has also written to Post Office Ltd’s external affairs manager asking for confirmation that the changes will have no impact on the ongoing efforts to have local services provided in High Lane.

She added: “People in High Lane have already seen the impact that a loss of services can have, and I am still fighting hard to ensure that we can have services there. I want to know that Post Office Ltd are still committed to finding a new location for local services.”

“We need a strong resilient post office network, providing local postal and financial services in High Lane and villages like it. It has my support, and that of so many local residents, because we know how important it is.”