WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has welcomed plans to preserve the national Post Office network and protect services in rural areas.
The MP has championed the protection of the Post Office network across her constituency, ensuring that services were protected in areas including Upton-upon-Severn, Kempsey, Tenbury Wells, Lower Broadheath and Alfrick.
During the summer, Dame Harriett led a campaign to encourage local people to have their say and she delivered a petition with 180,000 signatures to urge the Government to protect postal services and keep the national network at 11,500 outlets.
Now the Government has set out plans to protect the post office network and ensure that 99 per cent of people continue to live within three miles of a post office.
The Government has also pledged to commit £483 million over the next two years to modernise post offices.
Dame Harriett said: “I am pleased that the Government has listened to the clear views of local people about the importance of the post office network.
“Post Offices are often the final shop in a rural community and the last place where people can go for free cash withdrawals and other vital services.
“I led a campaign over the summer to encourage people to respond to the consultation and I am hopeful that their clear messages will underpin future Government policy.
“People living in rural areas must be treated equally with people living in busy towns and cities and the commitment to keep the post office network at the same size was an important red line for me and my colleagues.
“I will continue to scrutinise this matter as the Government evolves its plans to ensure that we have Post Offices that are fit for future purpose.”
