MP AND LOCAL CAMPAIGNERS PRESENT POST OFFICE PETITION TO PARLIAMENT AND NUMBER 10

4.17.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Jun 2008

Greg Mulholland MP along with Mayor of Otley Jim Spencer, Otley Councillor Ryk Downes, and local post office campaigners Lynne Carruthers and Babbett Dhallai, presented the local post office petition to Downing Street today, calling on the Government to stop the planned closure of Bramhope, Weston Lane and Far Headingley Post Offices.

Greg is also presenting the petition on the floor of the House of Commons this evening against the closure programme.

Copies of the petition were placed in the post offices under threat, and other local shops, taken door to door by Councillors and campaigners, as well as signed by many at the public meetings organised by Mr Mulholland. A third copy is being sent to the Post Office, who sent representatives to the public meetings called by Greg Mulholland, to add weight to the hundreds of letters already sent by local residents.

Commenting Greg said:

"There was a magnificent response from the local community and a very clear message has been sent to the Post Office to think again, I only hope they listen.

"The arguments put forward for the closures simply don't add up. It is clearly an attempt to save money without considering the effect that the loss of these post offices will have on the local community."

"The post offices in our area provide a vital local service, one on which local people depend. It is high time that the Government and the Post Office recognised this."

ENDS