MP urges county council to consider post office rescue plan

9:54pm Wednesday 12th March 2008

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Lancaster and Wyre MP, Ben Wallace, is set to write to a top County Hall boss urging the body to look at the possibility of saving Lancashire's under-threat post offices.

The MP wants county councillor Hazel Harding, Leader of Lancashire County Council (LCC), to consider adopting the same plan as Essex County Council who recently unveiled a £1.5 million formula to take on the running of 15 county branches targeted for the offing by the Government.

Under the novel proposals, Essex County Council will initially spend up to a £18,000 a year subsiding each of the 15 branches, but it is planned that over three years they will become self-sufficient.

Other English county council administrations, such as Leicestershire, have already mooted excitement at the plans.

Ben said: "This LCC have got an abysmal record in wasting money on frivolous things such as ferrying around expelled school kids in taxis to take them to other places of education.

"Now Hazel Harding has a real opportunity to put some cash into something that hard working community people care about.

"I am not talking about the county council bankrolling a duff venture, but creating a well-oiled business through a bit of initial money and by creating new and exciting provisions to be offered in-store.

"With so many rural post offices, based in the county, targeted for the chop it is particularly imperative Hazel Harding takes a look at the novel plans by Essex County Council."