Hugh fights for rural post offices

HUGH ROBERTSON FIGHTS POST OFFICE CLOSURES

Hugh Robertson is preparing to fight the proposed closures to Post Offices in Bearsted and Downswood. Since the announcement, Hugh has taken the following action.

a. Tabled a series of Parliamentary Written Questions to establish the data underpinning the closure proposals. This was vital in the fight to save the rural railway stations.

b. Asked the Parish Councils to set up local meetings to enable anyone concerned to have their say. These will take place as follows:

· Downswood Tuesday 27 July at 8.00 pm

· Bearsted Wednesday 28 July at 8.00 pm

Hugh will not be able to attend the Maidstone Borough Council meeting as it was announced in the press before anyone asked whether he was able to attend and he is already committed to a longstanding engagement in London.

c. Fixed a personal meeting with Simon Storie, who is leading the Post Office team, in London to register his concerns.

Hugh Robertson said: "Under the current government, Post Offices are closing across Britain. However, there are particular circumstances affecting both of these locations that lead me to believe that they should be kept open.

"I genuinely believe that this is a fight that we can win and I will be doing everything possible to defeat the closure plans."