Dr Sue Farrant calls for all post offices to be brought back into public ownership
Monday, January 12th, 2009Dr Sue Farrant, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for West Dorset has warmly welcomed the re-opening of the sub-post office in Trinity Street Dorchester. However, she expressed concern about the way in which it closed temporarily, without warning on 6 January when Counter Services Ltd went into administration and fears that the same thing could happen again.
“I have spoken to Post Office Counters Ltd and been told that a new franchisee has been found for the Trinity Street sub-post office. Meanwhile the Post Office has stepped in to keep the Trinity Street counter going and as far as the Post Office is concerned business there will continue as usual. The Post Office says they have no reason to believe this could happen again with another franchisee.
In reality, of course, in this uncertain climate there can be no guarantee that any private business will be able to keep afloat. I wish the new franchisee well but I would much prefer to have all of our post offices back in public ownership. They are an essential public service and that service should not be put at risk because of the economic mess the government and banks have made.
I was hugely relieved that at the end of last year the government decided to do the only sensible thing and allow the Post Office to continue to run the card account. That will certainly help to keep the sub-post offices viable and I am sure the public will use them as much as possible.
But our economy is in a mess and it is no good repeating the mistakes that have got us here. It is time to do things differently.”
