12th Mar 2008

Wales Green Party Condemns Post Office Closures

Wales Green Party Principle Speaker Leila Kiersch today condemned the proposed Post Office closures.

She said 'Whilst only 14 rural post offices have been earmarked for closure, this is 14 too many. These forced closures will be in addition to the steady decline in rural post offices across Wales. Living in a rural location myself I have seen two of my nearest post offices close, with a third, Llanilar, now on the condemned list. It is this loss of services and the jobs that go with them which turns thriving villages and hamlets into commuter country. '

She continued 'When small shops, schools, and services are lost this increases the pressure on people living in the countryside to travel to meet their needs. This disadvantages those without their own vehicle and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.'

Wales Green Party are calling on the Welsh Assembly to give serious consideration into buying out these Post Offices like Essex county council is proposing to do. They argue that such a move would help ensure their survival and could revive rural areas. Candidates for Wales Green Party standing in the forthcoming council elections have promised to make support for local services and businesses one of their key priorities if elected.

Photo attached - Wales Green Party Principle Speaker and Councillor Marilyn Elson launch the Welsh Assembly Election campaign by promising first class local services.

ENDS

For further information contact Leila Kiersch Wales Green Party Principal Speaker - 01974 261340 / 07817 837314 or (bilingual response) Wales Green Party Press Officer Jake Griffiths on 07752754537 and cantongreens@hotmail.co.uk