Don Foster MP and Cllr Neil Butters express concern over temporary Post Office closure

1.31.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 4th Jun 2007

Bath's MP, Don Foster, has raised concerns about the future of Freshford's Post Office following an announcement that it will close temporarily from 25 June 2007, due to the resignation of the subpostmaster.

Commenting, Don said:

"The Post Office Stores in Freshford provide a vital resource for local residents and this temporary closure will have a severe impact.

"My main concern is that, following the Government's recent announcement that it intends to close 2500 post offices, this temporary closure could become permanent."

"I have written to the Post Office's Field Change Advisor to express my deep concern about this closure and to seek assurances that every effort will be made to find a new subpostmaster.

"Twelve post offices have closed in Bath since 1999. Bath Liberal Democrats have campaigned against the Government's closure plans and if any further threats are posed to post offices in Bath, we will fight them every step of the way."

Commenting further, local councillor, Cllr Neil Butters (Lib Dem, Bathavon South) said:

"This is very bad news. I do know that people in Freshford are working towards setting up a community shop cum post office soon. They have already found a temporary venue from where a very part-time post office can operate until the community shop gets going. But the really worrying thing is the threat of a permanent reduction in services or even total closure for Freshford.

"Post offices provide not only a vital service themselves - to the elderly and those who do not have the use of the car. But post offices also support shops and shops support post offices, neither being viable without the other. So each village post office closure also threatens the village shop - a vital community amenity, social centre, and lifeline for those without transport."