Manchester Liberal Democrats have condemned the announcement that two post offices in South Manchester are going to be closed despite a huge local effort to save them.

Despite a Lib Dem petition that gained the support of over 1,500 local residents, which John Leech MP presented in Parliament, and massive local opposition to the decision, it has been decided that both Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road and Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road are to close.

Responding to the news of the closures, John Leech expressed anger and disbelief, stating that ‘it is shameful that Post Office Ltd and the Government have completely disregarded the views of local people and have decided to go ahead with the closures of Ladybarn and Parrs Wood post offices.’

‘It is devastating news for the subpostmasters and a real blow for the hundreds of local people who have made representations in the strongest terms possible to the consultation team, and supported the campaign to save the post offices. This decision will hit the most vulnerable the hardest, with the elderly being particularly badly affected. It is yet another blow to them under this government at a time of rocketing bills and increasing fuel poverty.’

Addressing the public consultation, he continued, ‘the whole idea of a public consultation should be that it offers a genuine chance for the people who will be affected by a decision to have their say in a constructive debate on the issue. Unfortunately, in this case the consultation has been farcical and one-sided with a real lack of feedback on the part of the consultation team. It appears that there was never any intention to reverse these closures, and that is absolutely appalling.’

 Councillor John Cameron added:

‘We knocked on hundreds of doors to collect petition signatures against these closures. We did not meet a single person who was in favour of the closures. Why have a consultation if people’s views are going to be ignored?

‘The Labour government have presided over these closures. The Labour-run City Council have twice refused by back our demands that they take meaningful action to save Manchester’s threatened Post Offices. Labour must now act or the effects on our loacal communities will be devastating.’

Councillors John Cameron, Iain Donaldson and Rod Isherwood and John Leech MP have hailed recent results from Ladybarn, St Bernards, Mauldeth Road and Green End Primary Schools. All three have received very good OFSTEAD inspection reports in recent months. Ladybarn and Green End Primaries have been working together in a ‘federation’, with one head teacher for both. John Leech said:”These reports show a great achievement by the staff, parents and pupils of all three schools. Congratulations go to all concerned.” Councillor Iain Donaldson, who is a school governor at Green End Primary said:”Green End has had some major problems in recent years, but the federation with Ladybarn and the dedication and hard work of all the staff have really paid off.” Councillors John Cameron and Rod Isherwood are school governors at Ladybarn Primary. John Cameron said:“Ladybarn Primary has been classed as an ‘outstanding’ school. This is no more than it deserves. Everyone at Ladybarn has worked exceptionally hard to achieve this.”

John Leech MP has blasted Labour MPs for siding with phone company giants rather than residents over the power of communities to stop inappropriate phone masts. There are fewer restrictions on planning applications for phone masts, making it difficult for planning permission to be refused.The Liberal Democrats in Parliament moved an amendment to the Planning Bill which would have meant applications for phone masts would have required full planning permission like applications for new buildings. But Labour MPs, including all three Manchester Labour MPs who voted, voted against the call and Conservative MPs did not bother voting at all. John Leech MP said after the vote:“Manchester’s Labour MPs had the opportunity to side with local communities or with giant phone companies,” said John Leech MP “It is extremely disappointing so see that they have decided to back powerful multinational companies rather than the people they are supposed to represent. “The change the Liberal Democrats proposed in the House of Commons would have given residents a fighting chance to stop inappropriately sited phone masts but Labour decided to block it. They should be ashamed of themselves.”