Burstow blasts Post Office Limited for poor consultatation

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 20th Sep 2004

Sutton and Cheam MP, Paul Burstow, has blasted Post Office Limited for a sham consultation over the future of post offices in the borough. The MP has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, asking for a parliamentary debate on the post office plans.

Mr Burstow has been outraged by the Post Offices 'hard-nosed' attitude to consultation. When MPs and Council Leaders met with the Post Office last week they were outraged to be told that the Post Office would pay little attention to petitions. The Post Office itself plans to do little to publicise its closure plans other than putting leaflets in the sub-post offices themselves.

Paul Burstow MP said:

"Post Office Limited have a cavalier approach to consultation. It is clear that they have come to close local post offices. Their attitude to petitions is appalling and shows the Post Offices contempt for its customers.

"I am asking the Speaker for a parliamentary debate to challenge the Government for allowing such a sham consultation. Petitions are an important way in which people can make their voice heard, the Post Office are saying they don't want to listen.

"The Post Office are doing as little as possible to tell people about their plans. It is clear that the Post Office are going to take more notice of letters than petitions so it is vital that as many people as possible write to save their local post office."