MP Accuses Post Office of Dragging its Feet over Preventing Closures

Today in the House of Commons, John Baron MP pressed the Post Office Minister to take action to ensure that Post Office Ltd opens its books so Essex County Council can produce a viable business model to keep branches open. Two profitable Post Offices in Billericay and Wickford have been recently closed.

John said: “Essex County Council has committed £1.5 million to explore the possibility of keeping open a number of Post Offices including two profitable branches in Billericay and Wickford.

"However, despite the Minister’s assurances that he has talked with the Post Office, and despite the Secretary of State’s letter of 19th March, Post Office Ltd are still dragging their feet in negotiations with Essex County Council by failing to release essential financial information .

"Will the Minster now personally ensure that Post Office Ltd cooperates with the Council , and that the de-commissioning of branches stops until negotiations are complete?”

In reply, the Post Office Minister said that he had already had two meetings with the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd encouraging them to open a dialogue with Essex County Council .

Afterwards John said that to him it is clear that Post Office Ltd is ‘stonewalling’ and is wanting want these negotiations to fail, because they are determined to meet their target of 2,500 branch closures regardless of the harm this will do to local communities. He also stated that it is also clear that the Government could do more to bring pressure on Post Office Ltd, but it has chosen not to do so.