Cllr Paul Hodgkinson,opposition group leader at Cotswold District Council,has welcomed moves by the former Liberal Democrat Postal Affairs Minister,Edward Davey,to secure the future of the Post Office under a 10-year deal which will give certainty to local postmasters.
The Coalition Government has secured long-term arrangements between the Post Office and Royal Mail before the two are separated under controversial privatisation plans.
The move – just announced –has been widely welcomed by sub-postmasters in the Cotswolds because it will give them the confidence to make long-term investments in their businesses.
Cllr Hodgkinson commented:“This is a tremendously good result for sub-postmasters in our area such as in Bourton and it has to be good news for everyone in the district,especially those who rely upon village post offices which could well have been threatened if this deal had not been done.”
“This has protected the Cotswolds from the sort of devastating closures we saw under the last government when we lost 7,100 post offices nationally and the losses we have faced locally. In 2008 we campaigned hard with residents to save the local post offices which were under threat. Those campaigns resulted in both Rendcomb and Colesbourne keeping their post office facilities. Now,those post offices which serve communities like Bourton on the Water can be reassured about the next decade.”
“The arrangement demonstrates a commitment to ensure a sustainable future for both organisations. Post offices play a vital role in our local communities with residents in many villages,especially pensioners,relying heavily on the services they provide.
Read about this story and Bourton’s post office at:
