MP SLAMS "SHAM CONSULTATION" ON POST OFFICE CLOSURES

6.50.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Mar 2008

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne told the House of Commons today that all the four proposed post office closures in his constituency had gone ahead despite a large public protest including a 1000-signature petition.

Mr Huhne said that the Government's plans were a "fraudulent exercise in sham consultation" and that they did not fool anyone that ministers were open-minded about the process.

Speaking in the debate on post offices today, Mr Huhne reported on the local experience in Eastleigh and said that the Government had not taken into account the losses to local communities not just of postal services but also the associated convenience stores.

"The Government has not calculated the losses of Value Added Tax on the goods sold in these stores, for example" said Mr Huhne. "Nor do they take into account the impact of closures particularly on elderly people".

The four post offices in the closure programme in Eastleigh borough are in Hamble, Butlocks Heath, Bishopstoke and Chandlers Ford. "Local residents are very angry over these closures" said Mr Huhne. "These post offices are an important hub of the local community".