LibDem team continues fight for post offices

3.33.40pm GMT Wed 3rd Nov 2004

Local Councillors gain PPC Laura Murphy's support in trying to keep local post offices

Laura Murphy, the Liberal Democrat PPC for Tunbridge Wells tried again this week to find a lifeline for the post office in the Morrisons store in Tunbridge Wells.

Laura had already spoken to Roger Owens, Property Manager for Morrisons to see if there was any chance of saving the post office and when last week Somerfields announced they were buying 114 of the stores, Laura hoped that would herald a reprieve.

"Morrisons had decided to close all the post offices that were being run under franchise by Safeway, primarily because of what they saw as petty regulations imposed on them by Post Office inspectors. They had also seen a big dip in profits when the government changed the benefit payments and encouraged people to have their pensions and allowances paid into bank accounts. Unfortunately, initial discussions indicate that the Tunbridge Wells store is not one that is being bought back so Morrisons will continue with their plans to close the post office in 2005."

There is one final chance for the post office though. "Other Morrisons' stores have allowed their in-store post offices to be run by an independent, small trader under franchise to the Post Office. There is not a space issue in the Tunbridge Wells store so if someone was prepared to take on the franchise we could keep the post office open."