Councillor Rose Wooding fights to save local post office

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Aug 2001

At a public meeting last night Bunhill Liberal Democrat Councillor Rose Wooding called for the post office to reconsider the closure of 59 Old Street. More than x residents were present at a (packed?) meeting at the Vibast Centre on Old Street. Rose Wooding said ìClosing this post office is just another step in reducing shops and services in the Old Street area, taking the heart out of the local community. ìMany local people - particularly the old and disabled - will find it much more difficult to get to other post offices in the area. And many of the others do not provide the same services. ìThe Post Office is owned by the Labour Government and they have done nothing to stop this closure. ìWhen they were trying to get elected just a few weeks ago, Labour promised to support public services - but when it comes to action, they obviously donít care. This closure reveals Labourís true colours on good local public services. Many people who voted Labour just eight weeks ago must be feeling desperately let down. ìNo wonder the unions are talking to the Liberal Democrats, given Labourís attitude ìThis Government promised to support public services when they were trying to get elected just a few weeks ago, but they donít seem to care about the impact post office closures have on local people. I have written to the Minister responsible for post offices, Patricia Hewitt and I would ask other local people to write as well. Rose is also calling on Chris Smith to do something about this issue. ìChris Smith is a Labour MP in a Labour Government making promises about public services. Letís see some action from him!î ìThe support at this meeting shows that local people need their local post office and I am going to fight to keep it.î