Making the case for our post offices
Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 08 May 2008
The issue of post office closures had quietly slipped off the radar for a time.
People’s concerns have been centred on the credit crunch, fuel prices and property.
But make no mistake, resentment about the threat to eight post offices in Allerdale has been simmering away - petitions have been launched, arguments honed, battle lines drawn up.
It culminated in a meeting this week at which councils, action groups and MPs decided to launch a county-wide front against closures.
This will certainly haul the closures back up the agenda but it is only by stating reasoned cases for individual post offices that the campaigners will succeed.
Workington MP Tony Cunningham and Allerdale council agree that hard evidence about customers numbers and research about likely hardship must hold sway over any emotional responses.
By doing this, there is still an opportunity to alter the closure programme.
We welcome Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s words of support for newspapers like the Times & Star.
Writing for us as part of Local Newspaper Week, Mr Brown highlights the vital role that local papers play in campaigning on issues that matter.
For example, our Save Our Cobbbles petition recently helped to stop destruction of part of Workington’s historic Portland Square.
Our present Keep it Clean campaign highlights the litter problem that people feel so strongly about.
We represent people’s opinions with readers’ letters and vigorous debates on our website.
In the week that Mr Brown admitted his Government needed to listen more, he acknowledges that newspapers in the heart of the community are an important part of that process.
