Earlier this month Ruth Cadbury MP wrote to Kelly Tolhurst MP, the Minister responsible for Post Offices, to urge the Government to protect, and support our post offices. Between 2017, and 2018 112 Post Offices have closed, and locally, both Chiswick Grove Park, and Brentford High Street remain without a post office after no local businesses were prepared to take on the responsibility of running a post office counter.
A survey released last week by National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) found that one in five post offices could close in the next year due to falling profits.
In the letter, Ruth raised the issue of post office closures, and pointed towards the Government cutting the 'Network Subsidy Payment' by £140 million since 2012, which is a fund set up to support Post Offices with day to day running costs. Speaking after sending the letter Ruth said ''Our post offices are a crucial part of our community, and I've had lots of constituents tell me about how damaging it's been when post offices, such as the one in Brentford High Street close. Whether you're a business owner having to send mail, or an elderly resident needing to access key service, it's clear that the Government need to do so much more to protect, and support our post offices.
I will continue working both in Parliament to put pressure on the Government to fully support our post offices.''
The full text of Ruth's letter can be seen here.