"LET'S HOPE THE POST OFFICE LISTENS"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 8th Nov 2004

Campaigners have collected hundreds of signatures objecting to the decision to close Post Offices in North West Leeds.

Six sub post offices in the area are threatened: the Bowoods branch on Stainbeck Road, Silk Mill Drive, Spen Lane, West Park, the Crow Trees branch, Harrogate Road. Rawdon and Westbourne Park on Bradford Road in Otley.

Public consultation ended on Wednesday 10th November and closure would actually take place in January 2005 and the several hundred names and letters were sent to the Post Office today to try to stop the closures.

Cllr Greg Mulholland, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Leeds North West, has been leading the campaign to fight the closures and he spoke in the debate on Post Office closures at last week's Leeds City Council meeting on Wednesday 3rd November.

Speaking to the Council, Greg explained the reality of the impact the closures would have on local people explaining the journeys that people would have to make to get to the main post office in Otley. Using the examples of the Silk Mill Drive branch, where people would face a situation where they either had to walk back up a hill or risk getting stranded by buses, and the Westbourne Park in Otley. As Greg said, "To suggest that it is an acceptable alternative to expect local people, including elderly and disabled people, to walk across two main roads and the busy roundabout and into Otley is ridiculous". Cllr Mulholland explained that this has not been thought through from a human perspective. "The Post Office seem to have simply looked at a map and this fails to take into account the actual journeys people will be faced with".

Cllr Mulholland called upon the Government to defend suburban communities in the same the way it protects rural ones, he said, "This is about community and suburban communities are no less communities than rural ones and we will defend such communities against those who would threaten them. This Government seems to see Post Offices as the same as any other business and this fails to take into account the invaluable service they provide."

Greg's campaign has been backed by all 18 Leeds City Councillors who represent part of Leeds North West.

Cllr Sue Bentley (Lib Dem Weetwood) commented, "We have had a fantastic response to the petition which shows the strength of local feeling on this issue."

Cllr Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) commented, "We just we hope the Post Office listens to this and responds accordingly so we can ensure local people continue to have proper access to the services they need."