No to Post Office Closures

Morley Borough Independent Councillors are to lead a campaign against the proposed closures of Britannia Road and Newlands Post Offices in Morley, which was announced by the Post Office today. The Closure Programme, which threatens over 20 post offices across the Leeds City Council area, will mean Morley losing more post offices following the closure of Howden Clough Road and Fountain Street Post Offices just over 2 years ago.

Councillor Robert Finnigan said, “This is an outrageous proposal and is an attack on some of our most vulnerable communities on the Harrops and Denshaw and Newlands Council Estates. These post offices offer a vital service to local people and their closure will inevitably mean hardship to many Morley residents.”

The proposals will know go through a six week consultation process but Morley Borough Independent Councillors are concerned that the consultation process is a sham and the decision to close has already been made.

Councillor Judith Elliott said “The responsibility for these post office closures lies squarely with the Government. Their decision to refuse to allow People to have their pensions and allowances paid at their local Post Office has meant that many Post Offices have become economically unviable. I am particularly disappointed that Labour MPs have backed this Closure Programme.”

Councillors will again be launching a petition to stop the two Morley closures and will be raising the matter at both Town and City Councils.

Councillor Finnigan said “The announcement of this closure programme immediately after the Local Elections is particularly suspicious and has clearly been delayed to prevent voters taking this issue into consideration during the Local Election Campaign. We will be using the whole six week period to galvanise support for our campaign and will fight to the last moment to keep these two Morley Post Offices open.”