Letter from Patrick McLoughlin MP
Thank you for your letter regarding the Business
and Enterprise Committee's study into the post office consultation.
You are indeed correct that this process has caused some concern
in my constituency, especially in the village of Kirk Ireton,
where the post office is one of those now confirmed to be closed.
Not one of the post offices that were proposed for closure in
my constituency have been reprieved, despite several passionate
and well fought campaigns by local residents.
Anecdotal evidence from residents suggests that
they were never informed that post office monitors were visiting
the village, losing out on their opportunity to make their opinions
heard. After the decision was announced there were again many
complaints that the consultation period was not widely advertised
and was too short for many people to write in, especially as the
consultation period conflicted with a postal strike.
One of the strongest and most often repeated
complaints is that the consultation process failed to take into
account the very poor public transport links to other nearby post
offices in the area. For example a neighbouring post office in
another village may only be two miles away, but with no bus service
it is impossible for elderly or disabled residents to reach it.
This was a recurring theme in the many letters I have received
arguing against closing this particular post office.
I hope these views are useful, and I am enclosing
a copy of the newsletter (not printed here) I am sending
out to residents of Kirk Ireton regarding the closure. I am always
available to discuss these issues with you further.
13 December 2007
| 
