PROTECTING OUR POST OFFICES

Lib Dems in Newcastle are calling for the Council to take a lead to breathe new life into our remaining local post offices. In the Labour Government's last 18 months, no fewer than 2500 local post offices were closed, a damaging blow to many local communities.

Now, following one of the Lib Dems' 2010 election pledges, the Coalition government is investing £1.3bn to modernise the network, protect
existing post offices and extend locally available services. Local Councils have a key role, and have been invited to sign up to a new partnership with the Post Office.

Councillor David Faulkner commented: "This is a chance to reverse the huge decline of recent years under both the Tories and Labour, and to look at how new products and services could be offered through Post Offices on behalf of the council and other bodies. We're pressing the Labour Council to take up the offer and help reinvigorate our local post offices."