Fears of more post office closures in North Wales

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-w ... -27983596/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OPPOSITION MPs have warned of the threat of more post office closures in North Wales after the failure of a Commons rebellion.

The Government saw off an attempt by coalition rebels to guarantee businesses for post offices from the Royal Mail following its privatisation.

They wanted a 10-year agreement to be inserted into the Postal Services Bill, which was being discussed by the House of Commons.

But their amendment was defeated by a Government majority of 58, after Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey warned EU rules prevent legislation from including such agreements.

More than 200 Welsh post offices shut between 2007-09 alone, prompting a well-supported Daily Post campaign.

Watchdog Consumer Focus warned at the weekend that privatisation of the Royal Mail could result in the closure of 4,400 post offices nationally, more than a third of the network.

It said Royal Mail could end the inter-business agreement – which requires it to pay Post Office Ltd £343m annually to provide services – after five years.

Wrexham Labour MP Ian Lucas said: “The failure to guarantee the long-term link between Royal Mail and post offices puts post offices at risk, and it is a very dangerous road to go down.

“I think this Bill will have very severe negative consequences.”

Plaid Cymru spokesman Elfyn Llwyd demanded assurances that the Royal Mail will continue inter-service agreements with the Post Office.

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP said: “I’m very concerned changes will lead to a deterioration of services, particularly for small businesses, domestic customers, vulnerable groups and communities.

“The Postal Service is simply too important to privatise and the UK Government is desperately wrong.”

“The last Labour government presided over mass post office closures of nearly a third in Wales – losing 436 post offices between 2001 and 2010.

“Now there is a very real threat of more post offices closures.”

Mr Llwyd said rural Wales in particular was especially reliant on the services of the Royal Mail, and if it lost the guarantee which means it costs the same to post a letter anywhere in the UK, communities and small businesses would suffer.

Tory Brian Binley and Liberal Democrat Bob Russell were behind the bid to change the controversial Postal Services Bill.

But Mr Davey, a Lib Dem, warned an “exclusive agreement” between the Royal Mail and Post Office would face a “significant risk” of legal challenge.

Mr Davey has promised there will be no new post office closure programme, and they are providing £1.34b of new funding for the network.