Rayleigh Tory MP Mark Francois has attacked the system used by the Post Office to consult over branch closures as a "sham".
He has been campaigning for the retention of the local post offices at Golden Cross, Hawkwell, and Plumberow Avenue, Hockley.
This included presenting a petition in the Commons before Christmas on behalf of local residents who were opposed to the closures. Mr Francois said he replied to the consultation exercise in December to voice his protest against the proposed closures and received a standard pre-written letter nine days after the consultation period closed, confirming the closures were going ahead.
Mr Francois said: "The whole procedure on Post Office closures is nothing but a sham. The Post Office is purely going through the motions for closure, and in nearly every case the consultation makes no difference at all, with the branches being closed."
He also raised the issue in a Parliamentary debate on December 11, when a minister promised to write to MPs who had raised particular concerns about branch closures in their own constituencies.
A Post Office spokesman said: "In September we extended the consultation period from a month to six weeks following discussions with PostWatch. It is a vital part of the process and the feedback we receive from everyone is important in decision making. The consultation process is not a sham."
Published Monday January 26, 2004
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