Local MP invokes new Sustainable Communities Act to call for moratorium on post office closures

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 26th Feb 2008

Tim Farron has sought to use the new Sustainable Communities Act in his bid to save post offices. He has called on the government to halt plans to close thousands of post office branches until the long-awaited Sustainable Communities Act comes into effect this autumn. The Act, which passed into law late last year, would require the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to write to all local authorities requesting a 'sustainability statement' that would identify the most crucial local services.

Mr Farron has submitted a parliamentary motion which he hopes will lead to the Government suspending the planned raft of post office closures.

Tim Farron said:

"I think it is crucially important that this piece of legislation is given the chance to actually work. Gordon Brown should put a stop to the closure programme immediately and wait for the Sustainable Communities Act to come into effect.

"We have seen in this area that local communities regard their post offices as vital from the thousands of letters and signatures on petitions against closures. The government ought to be taking this into account."