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Council moves to save post offices

4:45pm Sunday 13th April 2008

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Photograph of the Author By Tom Moseley »

COUNCILLORS have vowed to do all they can to save post offices set to close in Blackburn and Darwen.

A motion has been passed by the full council "deploring" the decision to close the Sunnyhurst branch in Darwen.

And it called upon council officers to investigate whether Blackburn with Darwen council could take over the service.

The amended version, which was passed, criticised Darwen's Labour MP Janet Anderson for voting in parliament against a bid to suspend the closure programme.

Blackburn with Darwen bosses have previously ruled out taking over post office services - a scheme first put forward by Essex County Council.

But at a full council meeting council leader Colin Rigby said discussions were ongoing with Lancashire County Council to see what could be done.

As well as Sunnyhurst, the branch on Preston New Road, Blackburn, has also been the subject of protests. Blackburn MP Jack Straw voiced his opposition to those plans, but was then criticised for opposing the Conservatives' suspension plans.

Liberal Democrat leader David Foster tabled the amendment to the motion put forward by Sunnyhurst Labour member Dave Smith.

The amendment added: "The council regrets the decision of our local MP to vote against proposals that would have suspended the compulsory closure of the office."

For Darwen leader Tony Melia called on Labour councillors to "condemn" their MPs for supporting the closure programme.

But Coun Smith said: "People are talking as if this would have saved the post offices. It wouldn't. The motion would not have stopped the closure programme, it would have suspended it.

"There was no extra cash being provided and it would have made no difference."

Members of the ruling Conservative, Liberal Democrat and For Darwen alliance supported the amended motion at the meeting.

Labour members abstained.

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thomas., Darwen says...
6:42pm Thu 17 Apr 08

Sunnyhurst Post Office will close 9th May. The list is in LT 17th April. So much for all the "guff" from LABOUR. I notice that unconvinced has not replied to my last entry - stuck for words are you or are you now convinced that I am right?
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Thomas, Darwen says...
12:18pm Wed 16 Apr 08

To unconvinced. Your argument does not stand up. If the Labour Councillors put a motion to Save Sunnyhurst Post Office as Dave Hollings said, how does that square with Janet Anderson and Jack Straw both voting last week in Westminster to support the closures? I think the Labour Councillors just sat on their hands by abstaining - not even supporting their own motion? -that is certainly not helping the effort to prevent the closure of Sunnyhurst PO or any other. Don't wear your rose coloured specs please and who is slagging who off as you delicately put it? We just do not want this PO to close - have you ever been in it, I wonder?
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Unconvinced, Darwen says...
9:51pm Tue 15 Apr 08

According to Hypocrites, Labour put forward a motion asking the Council to save Sunnyhurst Post Office. The Coalition put forward a motion to condemn the two MPs.

If those were indeed the two motions put before Council, I think the Labour Councillors come out of this rather better than the Coalition Councillors. Trying to do something is always better than just slagging someone off (no matter how justified you might think this is).
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Hypocrites, Darwen says...
8:39pm Tue 15 Apr 08

Hollings is telling lies. There were two motions put to the council. The first motion to the council to look into saving Sunnyhurst Post Office. The second asked the council to condemn MP Janet Anderson and MP Jack Straw for their actions in Parliament. The Labour Party including Councillor David Smith, Councillor David Hollins, councillor Moyra Barrett and Councillor Eileen Entwistle, abstained from both votes.
I would have thought they would be only too happy to condemn the MPs for their actions in Parliament. There was only one Labour councillor, that had the guts to stand up and condemn MP Jack Straw for his actions in Parliament this was Councillor Tony Humphreys, having said that even after Councillor Humphries condemned Jack Straw for his actions, he also failed to vote in the council he stood with the Labour Party line as did all the other Labour party councillors. They put the Labour Party first residents of Sunnyhurst last, and in Tony Humphreys case, the residents of the borough last.



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Joseph, Blackburn (Formerly) says...
8:30pm Tue 15 Apr 08

Councillors in Blackburn only want to keep Post Offices open so they don't have to go into Town to cash their benefit cheques!!!

Ask Whagat and see what he thinks about it!!!

There are a lot of people in Blackburn Coucil who care about 3 things! They are:

1.Money
2.Themselves
3.A country begining with P!!!

They could not really give a toss about about Joe Public.
Anything for self gain!!!

For those who disagree with me, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!
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Thomas, Darwen says...
9:36pm Mon 14 Apr 08

Cllr Dave Hollings talks about "party politics" he is guilty of talking "party politics" all the time. It is "what the coalition did or what the coalition party did that" He forgets that he was in the party that "ran" BwD for donkey's years and look what a state BwD is in now. Market traders protesting, dreadful road surfaces and now this business of the Sunnyhurst Post Office. How he has the guile to say that Labour do not support the closures (presume that is what the photo of Jack Straw is doing) and yet our Labour MP, Janet Anderson and Jack Straw both toed the party whip and voted for the closures last week. How do you square that circle, Dave? You will, I know, because that is what your politics are all about.
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Cllr Dave Hollings, Darwen says...
4:49pm Mon 14 Apr 08

To Ian the Beancounter

That is exactly what we did. We put forward a motion to do something practical to save the Sunnyhurst Post Office.

The Coalition Parties put forward a party political amendment, which they knew we could not support. But their amendment contained nothing in it which would help save the Post Office. Of course they are quite entitled to play party politics in this way.

As a result of our motion the Council is now committed to doing something practical about saving Sunnyhurst Post Office. Which, I hope, is what you would want us to do.

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Dave, Burnley, says...
3:57pm Mon 14 Apr 08

It's not too late until they've actually closed the doors and your post office has been turned into a pub or takeaway. Keep fighting!
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Janet the rip off, Darwen says...
3:32pm Mon 14 Apr 08

I have seen MP Janet Anderson out campaining for Dave Smith during the working day. Who is paying her? Answer we are. So not only are we paying her motoring expences to canvas for the Labour party we are also paying her wages. Remember that when she knocks on your door. Ask her who is paying her to talk to you and canvas for Dave Smith. It works out at aprox £100 per hour taking her expences into account. £2.00 per min and your money.

The best thing you can do is give her a gallon of petrol when she knocks on your door it will be much cheaper, but remember not to talk to her for too long it will cost you a fortune.
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Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
2:29pm Mon 14 Apr 08

Sounds to me like you're trying to justify the Labour stance, Dave! This is a LOCAL issue and as such, party political affiliations should not enter into the equation. We vote for Councillors who we think care for our communities, but when they blindly follow what happens in Westminster, it makes it perfectly clear that Councillors are more interested in their political ambitions than the cares of their constituents. The deep disgust which was reserved for Janet Anderson can now be extended to every Labour Councillor who didn't have the guts to do the right thing. I', in your constituency, Dave, but this episode has made me more adamant than ever that Labour should be defeated in May.
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Cllr Dave Hollings, Darwen says...
12:31pm Mon 14 Apr 08

It was a Labour motion to get the Council to properly look at supporting Sunnyhurst Post Office. The Coalition could easily have put forward such a motion, but did not. They only decided to support this idea after we had put it forward.

The Coalition then added an amendment which they knew Labour could not support without the Coalition using the words for party political purposes.

Labour only abstained on the final motion because we had already got what we wanted - the Council to look properly at supporting the Post Office.
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Phil For Darwen, Darwen says...
12:19pm Mon 14 Apr 08

So Gordon Brown thinks it more important to give away £100million to Africa than spend it here keeping essential services open. Janet Anderson and Jack Straw tell everyone they will oppose closures, then go to London and do the opposite. Now every Labour Councillor in Blackburn with Darwen abstain from a motion to suspend closures.
Labour, the butchers of the local Post Office!
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Hamish Mc, says...
11:38am Mon 14 Apr 08

Could you tell me "WHY" this Council want to now get involved in trying to save Sunnyhurst PO is it not to late as the PO and this Government want it closed. I also see that the Opposition (LABOUR)members abstained from the amended motion etc just like their counterparts that are in Government voted for the closing of 24 PO's in Lancs. Well the people of Darwen and Blackburn can show how they feel about them on May 1st.
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Brian Todd, Blackburn says...
7:15pm Sun 13 Apr 08

Where were you when the earlier closures happened without a squeak?
Livesey Branch Road and Bolton Road closed despite residents opposing the idea. Writing to Mr Straw did nothing to help then!
A bit late coming to our rescue after the deed has been done, and a deed you voted for and supported!!!!!
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UNDER THREAT: Jack Straw at the Preston New Road post office UNDER THREAT: Jack Straw at the Preston New Road post office

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