Tessa Jowell MP

LOCAL MP SUPPORTS 'FINANCIALLY VIABLE' POST OFFICE

Tessa Jowell is backing Mr Francis, the Sub Postmaster at the Gipsy Road Post Office in her constituency.

Tessa (pictured left with Mr Francis) supports the retention of the Post Office in Gipsy Road having discussed the matter in detail with the sub-postmaster as well as other local traders and residents. She comments:

"I feel that there is a strong case to keep this particular office open. This is based on the fact that it has a growing income through Post Office related trade which makes it, in my opinion, financially viable. I believe that this Post Office also has an important role within the local economy including the parade of shops on Gipsy Road and other local businesses and services. The ongoing consultation is a genuine one and I very much hope that, together, we will be able to put a strong and compelling case in favour of the retention of the Gipsy Road Post Office. Mr Francis is a popular figure in the local community and deserves all our support."

On the wider question of Post Office closures Tessa observed: 

"The level of subsidy to the Post Office network is now running at over £170m per annum with more than £2 billion spent in subsidy since 1997 and a further £1.7 billion committed up to 2011. This is an unprecedented commitment on the part of the government. Under the last Conservative government over 3500 Post Offices closed. Not a penny of subsidy was put in to save a single Post Office and no effort was made by the then government to prevent any of these closures.

"Without the government’s commitment, several thousand more Post Offices would be under threat of closure and they would close - as they did before 1997 - without any reference to local need.

"It has to be acknowledged that there are many Post Offices that, with changes in people’s behaviour, are not viable and whose subsidy places other offices in the network under pressure through the huge levels of subsidy that would be required to keep them open. I am concerned that, if the subsidy is spread too thinly, more Post Offices may be forced to close in the future.

"This is not just my view. George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of Sub Post Masters has said: 'Although regrettable we believe that closures are necessary to ensure the remaining post offices are able to thrive in the future'.

"I will continue to support the retention of Gipsy Road Post Office and will argue for that as strongly as I can within the current consultation. I do believe however, that some Post Offices must close in order to ensure the long-term viability of the Post Office network."