Lloyd asks East Sussex County Council to explore Post Office funding

12.00.00am GMT Wed 12th Mar 2008

It was announced last week that Essex County Council are negotiating a buy-out price from Post Office Ltd of upwards of 15 Post Offices in the County earmarked for closure. It was further reported that the Minister responsible Pat McFadden MP, has given his approval. The Leader of Essex County Council, Lord Hanningfield, was quoted this week as saying that "up to 50 councils have contacted us around the country" and that "the stated aim is for any investment to be used over three years to help each branch to move towards becoming financially self-sufficient and "cost-neutral."

Stephen Lloyd, Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner said: "I applaud what Essex County Council are seeking to do. Consequently I have written to Cllr Peter Jones, the Leader of East Sussex County Council to ask that he approach his Conservative colleagues at Essex County Council to determine whether or not it would be possible for ESCC to do the same."

He added: "Only a few weeks ago in Eastbourne we learnt that despite massive public opposition the Post Office will be closing four local Post Office branches. If there is any way that our own County Council can re-open these branches in the same way that Essex is proposing, it has to be worth exploring. Only this week my Lib Dem colleagues presented a petition at 10 Downing Street of 50,000 signatures demanding the government stop the Post Office cuts. In Eastbourne alone over 3,000 residents backed my campaign to stop the closures."