Lib Dem Councillor attends Supporting Post Offices Conference (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem Councillor attends Supporting Post Offices Conference

May 8, 2008 4:40 PM

Cllr Madeleine Kirk

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Madeleine Kirk, is attending a national event next Wednesday on supporting post offices which have closed, or are due to close, in order to determine what York Council can do to maintain post office services in the city.

The event will be attended by almost 100 Councillors from around the country, and will identify practical ways in which Councils can try to save local offices by working with Post Office Ltd. Such ideas include Councils providing post office services alongside council services, or by using the post office network to provide councils services such as rent collection or bill payments.

Last month the Liberal Democrats amended a motion to Council about York Council taking over the running of post offices. The amendment requested that officers investigate alternatives to support post offices, such as social cooperatives or shared franchise, using council venues to provide post office services and jointly providing council and post office services.

Cllr Kirk said, "The Liberal Democrats have strongly opposed post office closures here in York, and have asked that council officers investigate numerous ways to support our closed post offices. I am looking forward to hearing about potential ways in which we can save our local post offices, including the ideas which the Liberal Democrats proposed to Council last month."

"It is important that we do everything we can to support our local post offices - our fight goes on to retain post offices in York, even after many of them have closed."