Farron challenges Prime Minister to postpone post office closures

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Jul 2007

Local MP Tim Farron has today issued a challenge to the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown to consider postponing the planned closure of thousands of local post offices until the Sustainable Communities Bill has come into effect. Mr Farron has been a leading campaigner for the Sustainable Communities Bill which would give local people the power to decide on the future of their local services.

The level of public opposition to the planned closures has been huge, in Westmorland and Lonsdale alone more than 8,000 people signed a petition against the plans.

Tim Farron said:

"The new Prime Minister has an ideal and unique opportunity here to suspend the planned closure of thousands of post offices. The Sustainable Communities Bill, which I have supported at every stage in parliament, is an ideal tool which local communities can use to decide their own fate.

"The unprecedented level of opposition both here and across the country is proof positive that communities are opposed to the plans. I urge the Prime Minister to act now and suspend the closure plans until further notice!"