Lib Dems to Use Freedom of Information in Fight To Save Post Offices
The Labour-controlled executive of Manchester City Council have agreed a disappointing report into the feasability of the Council intervening to keep the 5 Post Offices shut this year in Manchester, including Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road and Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road, open. After voting in favour of a Lib Dem Motion at a meeting of the full City Council two weeks ago which called for every effort to be made to reopen these 5 Post Offices, Labour seem to backing down from that promise.
Commenting on the Post Office agreed by the Labour Executive, Lib Dem Leader Simon Ashley said,
“This report does not do what the Council motion I proposed asked for. The Liberal Democrats will be calling this report in for further Scrutiny. The Post Office made the Council sign a non disclosure agreement, which meant that Councillors have not seen any detailed figures for how much it would cost to save these Post Offices.”
During questioning, Labour Councillors confirmed that a subsidy in the order of £1million over three year would be needed, and that the Post Office had specifically excluded the Parrs Wood Branch, as its reopening would affect nearby Post Offices.
Lib Dem finance spokesperson Cllr Simon Wheale added,
“The Post Office, in stopping the Council even considering re-opening Parrs Wood, has acted outragously. The Liberal Democrats are going to use Freedom of Information requests to try and get more detailed figures. Once we have that, we will do all we can to find the money in the Council’s budget to save these Post Offices.”
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