Letter from Ian McCartney MP
Makerfield constituency has been involved in
the early round of local area consultations and I currently await
the final decision on the proposed closure of two post offices
in this area. I am therefore unable to comment on the extent to
which local views have been taken into account in the final outcome
of the consultation. However, in the past negotiation with the
post office did secure the reopening of one Post Office in my
area and prevent the closure of another.
As for the pre-consultation and local consultation
process, I have no complaint about the actual process. The pre-consultation
warned what was being considered and allowed the preparation and
conduct of a parallel "Use it or Lose it" campaign
with constituents which I did alongside the public consultation
carried out by the Post Office. In respect of one Post Office
the community were actively involved in the campaign and a petition
opposing the closure submitted during the consultation period.
Before the local consultation, the Post Office
were co-operative in providing a named contact and communicating
and meeting on the proposals in hand.
I hope this helps.
15 January 2008
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