Post Offices needed within "pram-pushing" distance

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Oct 2003

Problems with Sutton Borough's postal services and facilities will be taken up at the top consumer level this week by the borough's two Members of Parliament and its council leader.

Paul Burstow MP, Tom Brake MP and Cllr Sean Brennan are due to meet Ms Kay Dixon, chairman of London Regional Postwatch, the consumer body which represents users, in Sutton on Friday.

Paul Burstow said the three borough representatives would be expressing their concern to Ms Dixon about the potential closure of more local post offices.

"We have already lost some, and others are still under threat," Paul Burstow said. "I have won a concession from the Government that in future such closures would not be undertaken on a piecemeal basis, but as part of a regional strategy.

"But I firmly believe that everyone in the borough should have a post office within 'pram-pushing' distance, and will be making this point firmly to Ms Dixon," the Sutton and Cheam MP said.

The three borough leaders will also draw attention to the problems of accessibility that some people with disabilities and older people have in using many smaller post offices and sub-post offices.