Council leader says: Stop post office closures

2:08pm Wednesday 20th February 2008

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BURNLEY councillors have backed a campaign to stop the proposed closure of five post offices in the borough.

Burnley Council's executive this week called on the Post Office to reconsider the proposed closure of branches at Parliament Street; Piccadilly Road; Cheapside, Padiham Road; Walk Mill, Cliviger; and Church Street, Hapton.

Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "At least three of these post offices are in areas where there are a lot of elderly people.

"The nearest post office to Hapton is Padiham which is a long way to travel.

"This, after the closure of our libraries and the decimation of our hospital, is going to affect the people of Burnley very badly.

"Post offices are at the heart of our communities and provide essential services.

"Not everyone can jump in a car and travel to the one miles away."

The executive agreed a detailed response, concluding: "Burnley Borough Council believes that, in developing the plan, the Post Office has not taken sufficient account of its own assessment criteria for branch closure, and urges the Post Office to reconsider its plans."