Haringey Council should take a proactive approach to help Post Offices threatened with closure say local Liberal Democrats. In a motion, to be debated at the next Full Council meeting on 31st March 2008, Liberal Democrats request that Haringey Council investigates whether new initiatives such as those pioneered by councils in Essex could be adopted in Haringey.

Essex County Council announced in early March that they were considering plans to take over post offices scheduled for closure. Since then, many other councils throughout England have contacted Essex Count Council over their proposals to merge council services with those delivered by the Post Office.

Cllr Neil Williams, Haringey Liberal Democrats Leader, comments:

“It is vital that we leave no stone unturned to ensure that our local Post Offices are saved. We are urging Haringey Council to do everything in its power to support Haringey’s Post Offices, open talks with the Post Office and look at plans from other councils that could be used.

“Post Offices are vital to strong local communities and a lifeline to older people, the disabled and those people on lower incomes – we cannot and will not give up without a fight.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“Haringey Council, for once, need to take the bull by the horns and fight tooth and nail for our vital local services.

“The Labour government has closed 4,000 Post Offices since 1997 and the Tories closed 3,500 – now it seems that local government needs to act to save a service central government has given up on.”