Gordon's Livewire with the Gazette on Post Offices
Post Office Livewire
Hysteria is never a good basis for understanding. But it’s been rampant on the Gazette’s letter page from Tory Councillors and candidates for our not supporting their Post Office motion debated in Parliament.
We are not lobby fodder, the Government knows that very well from our campaign with the Gazette to defeat the Casino Advisory Panel. Week by week the campaigns we take up in Blackpool are testimony that we know our patch.
Gazette readers should know exactly what happened in Parliament’s Debate. The Conservatice motion didn’t mention opposing the closures – and offered no alternatives. The Government motion we backed preserved a £1.7 billion subsidy for the remaining sub-Post Offices – the Conservatives voted against it.
In the 1980's and 90's over 3,500 Post Offices to close and gave no subsidy.
While some people play games, we’ve consistently pressured the Post Office to focus on Blackpool’s elderly, people with disabilities, those needing public transport. We met officials straight away to challenge their statistics. We understand people’s frustrations – especially after the Post Office closed Abingdon Street. But we have been battling on these issues for 12 months – not peddling a con-trick motion. We forced a special Parliamentary debate on Abingdon Street, met WH Smith’s to challenge failings at Bank Hey Street and got a second lift installed.
This is practical action locally and we will continue challenging Royal Mail bosses and telling ministers why. We strongly back Councillor Fred Jackson’s proposal that Blackpool Council should look at options Government offered for taking on threatened offices.
With a 20 per cent drop in sub-Post Offices use and millions now paying bills on the internet, there has to be a survival strategy.