Another blow to rural life…
One of the defining features in rural towns and villages across the country has always been the local Post Office. Often run by the same person or family for many years, they provide an excellent local service for rural dwellers who would otherwise have to travel many miles, to do a basic task such as sending a parcel.
However, as we are well aware, post offices in the past were able to provide a much wider range of other services rather than simply selling stamps. It was possible to apply for a drivers licence, pay for a television licence and collect pension payments.
Since coming to power this Government have treated rural dwellers and their way of life with a complete lack of understanding. This has been particularly noticeable with post offices. They have little regard for genuine local communities which do have close ties and bonds. Here, post offices are often the centre of village life.
That is why I was so disappointed to learn that the Government is looking to close up to 7000 post offices, many in rural areas. Over the past 10 years, more than 5,000 post offices have already closed. We should be giving sub-postmasters more responsibilities and allowing them to take on new roles so that they become a one-stop-shop for a wide range of services – that would be a much better way to help sustain and rejuvenate local rural communities.