Lib Dem MEP Calls on Government to Stop Folkestone & Hythe Post Offices Closures

Liberal Democrat MEP for Folkestone & Hythe, Sharon Bowles, has today called on the government to reverse its policy of post office closures across the county. Her remarks came as the Post Office announced its first wave of branch closures, with 58 Kent Post Offices - including 5 in Folkestone and Hythe - earmarked for the axe.

Responding to the launch of a six-week consultation on the proposed closures, Sharon Bowles said, "People in Kent are now facing a post office crisis. The Brown and Blair governments have systematically cut investment in this vital service, forcing over 4,000 post offices to close since 1997."

Between 1999 and 2006, 112 post offices closed across Kent. In addition to overseeing post office closures across the county, the government has also steadily withdrawn services from surviving post offices. In 2006 for example the value of services withdrawn equalled £168 million, whilst Post Office Ltd made an operating loss of £111 million.

Sharon Bowles added, "Post offices are a necessity for thousands of people in Kent. They provide an important link to the local community and to key services. Many other European countries already recognise this fact and put the necessary investment into their post offices.

"Only the Lib Dems would put more investment into the country's crumbling post office network, spending £2 billion to increase the services on offer and to ensure that every community that needs a post office gets one.

"If the government is actually serious about creating stronger communities in Kent, protecting and investing in local post offices is a good place to start."