Liberal Democrats in Glasgow North are helping other campaigners across the country to fight the government’s plans to close 2500 Post Offices.

The plan to close one in every five branches was taken by Labour last year. Glasgow North campaigner Katy Gordon met the Party’s Post Offices spokesperson Sarah Teather MP at the Liberal Democrats’ conference on 8th March to discuss the Government’s closure plans.

“Labour’s plans to close thousands of Post Offices will hit communities hard across Britain,” said Katy Gordon, Spokesperson for Glasgow North. “The closures come on top of a further 7500 already closed by Labour and Conservative Governments.

“Post Offices are vital facilities for local communities and their closure will hit residents hard. We must do all we can to stop these closures from taking place. I am glad that we were successful in saving Hyndland and Kelvindale Post Offices in Glasgow North, and I hope that other areas can take inspiration from our campaign to win their battles”

Liberal Democrat Post Offices spokesperson Sarah Teather MP said, “Gordon Brown and Labour need to listen to the people who are concerned about their plans to close Post Offices. The axing of branches means that many, often the most vulnerable, are denied access to Post Office services or face long journeys and even longer queues in other Post Offices.

“Closures also lead to the loss of other local shops and businesses, ripping the heart out of local communities.

“Once again the Labour Government is cutting local services for short-term savings while ignoring the long term damage they cause. This is no way to run a country.”

Local campaigner Katy Gordon was delighted to hear today that Kelvindale Post Office has been saved from closure.

Post Office Ltd is announcing on Wednesday which of the 44 Post Offices in Glasgow threatened with closure had been saved, following the end of the consultation period on 3rd Dec 07.

Over the past few weeks, Katy has worked closely with Mr Mohammad, Postmaster of Kelvindale Post Office in a high profile campaign against closure. She received over 750 responses for her Kelvindale petition, spoke out against closure at the Community Council, held a timed walk with elderly residents and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen from Kelvindale to Anniesland Post Office which attracted press coverage and was praised in the House of Commons for the effectiveness of her campaigning.

Commenting on reports in today’s Glasgow Herald, Katy said:

“It is fantastic news that Kelvindale Post Office has been saved from closure. This shows what can be achieved when a whole community comes together to take action. We should be encouraging more post offices like this to succeed, rather than threatening them with closure.

Kelvindale and others like it provide a crucial service to the local community, particularly the elderly, which is why so many residents supported our campaign. Labour have stripped government business from the post office at every opportunity but still Kelvindale has survived and prospered.

I hope that in future the Post Office Ltd will be allowed to concentrate on strengthening the network and supporting Kelvindale and other post offices to develop their business.

According to reports in today’s Herald, Hyndland Post Office in Clarence Drive has also been saved. I was delighted to support the Hyndland Residents Association in campaigning against this closure and congratulate local residents on a successful campaign.”

Jo Swinson MP for East Dunbartonshire also commented:

“Labour MPs have remained silent while their Government has repeatedly undermined the Post Office – by scrapping the pension book, withdrawing government services and failing to invest in the Post Office network. Not a single one of Glasgow’s Labour MPs attended the recent debate in Westminster on Post Office closures [Evening Times], despite it being during the consultation period with 20 Glasgow Post Offices under threat. By contrast, local Liberal Democrats have been leading the campaign to save Kelvindale Post Office, and it’s wonderful news that strong community support has enabled this Post Office to be saved.”

Kelvindale Branch is a busy and profitable post office. The Post Office asked the owner, Mr Mohammed to take on the branch only 18 months ago, after the previous branch in the local Spar shop closed 7 months previously. Local residents have strongly backed the Liberal Democrat campaign against closure, returning fliers, signing petitions and writing to Post Office Ltd.

Katy commented:

“I am delighted that the local community has backed the campaign by coming out today. There were many more residents who would have liked to join us who couldn’t manage the walk, which took nearly half an hour over some steep streets. Nicol was pleased to come and show the party across the country is totally against this ill thought out closure programme.”