MP blasts "sham" consultation after final blow is delivered to local post office network

12.00.00am GMT Wed 5th Jan 2005

Responding to the announcement of the closure of Stonecot Hill sub-post office, Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam spoke of the "sham" consultation process leading to yet another post office closure in the area.

Taking the toll to a total of six post office closures announced in recent weeks in the Sutton and Cheam constituency alone, Paul Burstow MP commented:

"Post Office Ltd has succeeded in its intention to axe all six local post offices earmarked for closure last year as part of its dubiously titled 'network reinvention' programme.

"The fact that it took Post Office Ltd only twelve working days over the Christmas holiday period to come to conclusion to close the Stonecot Hill branch adds weight to the view that the whole consultation process has been an utter sham.

"The hurried decision to close yet another vital service to the local community leads one to question the extent to which further substantial consultation took place, or whether they were just delaying the bad news until after the holiday period."