MP welcomes post office funding (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

MP welcomes post office funding

11:47am Tuesday 15th April 2008 in News By Telegraph newsdesk

BURNLEY'S MP has welcomed extra funding for a Post Office outreach programme.

Kitty Ussher is pleased by the government's announcement to extend the funding for the scheme to help urban communities that have been affected by the possible closure of their local post offices.

Recently Post Office bosses announced no change to plans in Burnley and said that all five affected post offices would close.

However Kitty felt that at least three post offices in Burnley including Hapton and Parliament Street branches, had presented good cases to remain open and has appealed the decision to Post Office bosses and Postwatch, the consumer watchdog asking them to re-examine the cases.

The outreach programme sees a lottery style machine placed in retailers and provides many of the functions and services of a post office without the overhead costs of a full branch.

She said: "I've been fighting hard to retain vital post office services in the area and my main concern is about making sure the most vulnerable people continue to be able to access these services.

"While I would prefer to retain a full branch service in the areas we have appealed, I will be asking Post Office bosses to work with retailers in those areas to see if providing "outreach" machin-es is a viable alternative if that can not be achieved."

"I also welcome the fact the government is listening to the concerns of people and that it has provided the extra funds to trail this programme in urban areas. I will continue to do all I can to retain the vital service people want and need in Burnley."