Hundreds expected to attend Post Office meetings

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Aug 2008

HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend public meetings this week about planned closures of Post Offices in Falmouth, Budock, Carharrack, Pool and Redruth.

A representative of Post Office Ltd will attend a series of four meetings, organised by Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy.

Miss Goldsworthy wrote to Post Office Ltd requesting that a representative attend public the meetings after receiving hundreds of letters from constituents protesting against the planned closures.

She said: "The number of people that have come out in support of their Post Offices in the past few weeks has been overwhelming.

"This is despite the short consultation timetable, which has come at the busiest time of year for many people in Cornwall.

"Hundreds of people have already attended public meetings, written letters and signed petitions in support of their local branches.

"These meetings next week are a crucial opportunity for the public to put their concerns in person to Post Office Ltd - who take the final decision on the closures at the beginning of September.

"I am sure that Post Office Ltd will leave in no doubt of the importance of the local Post Office to our communities."

Julia added that it was time for the Government to see the effects of their closure programme on real people.

She said: "For Post Office Ltd, the consultation seems to have been a paper exercise. These meetings will show them how they will affect real people."

The meetings will take place as follows:

- Carharrack Post Office: Tuesday, August 19, at Carharrack Stars Pub, 6pm.

- Close Hill, Redruth and Pool Post Offices: Tuesday, August 19, at Redruth Community Centre, 8pm.

- Budock Post Office: Wednesday, August 20, at Budock Village Hall, 4pm.

- Falmouth Post Offices (including Killigrew Street, Bar Road, Flushing): Falmouth Rugby Club, 6pm.