HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO PROTEST AGAINST POST OFFICE CLOSURES

12.20.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Jul 2008

• Julia applauds "amazing turnout" of local people -

Over 250 people attended public meetings over the weekend to protest against Government plans to close Post Offices in Budock, Carharrack, Close Hill in Redruth and Pool.

The meetings were organised by Julia Goldsworthy, MP for Falmouth and Camborne, to kick start a campaign to save the Post Offices.

Two further meetings were arranged by Terrye Teverson, of Truro and Falmouth Liberal Democrats, in support of Flushing, Bar Road and Killigrew Street Post Offices, in Falmouth.

The move came after it was announced that the Post Offices were under threat of closure as part of the Government's sweeping programme of cuts across the country.

In Budock, the village hall was so full that people were forced to queue outside to hear Julia speak about the campaign.

In Carharrack too, residents packed the Mills Hall in the centre of the village in a defiant show of support for their local Post Office.

Julia told them that she was delighted with their strength of support for the campaign.

She urged residents to write individual letters to Post Office Ltd, calling on it to reconsider the closures, rather than simply signing petitions.

Julia said: "Petitions are important, but in this consultation they only count as one submission.

"An individual letter, signed by you, will also count as one submission.

"That is why it's vitally important to write a letter - tell them how important your Post Office is to your area and how your life would be affected without it.

"If we show enough evidence that the Post Office is vital to the community, then there is a chance it could be saved."

Julia also countered the rumour that if one Post Office is saved, then another will be closed.

"That is not true," she told residents. "The six Cornish MPs wrote to Post Office Ltd about that very point, and they assured us that each Post Office will be considered on its individual merits.

"So I would like to reassure anyone who is worried about this that campaigning to save your Post Office does not mean that another one will be closed."

Julia's energetic show of support for local Post Offices earned her a round of applause at each meeting.

Residents thanked her for supporting their Post Offices and vowed to campaign throughout the six week consultation period.

Speaking after the meetings, Julia said: "I was delighted at the turnout of these meetings, particularly in Carharrack and Budock, which were packed.

"I have promised residents that I will do everything in my power to support this campaign, and though I can't wave a magic wand, I will do my best to save these Post Offices."

Notes

1. A special address has been set up for submissions in this consultation. The address for writing letters to Post Office Ltd is: Network Development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULATION TEAM

2. If people wish to copy their letter to Julia, she will include it as part of her submission to Parliament. The address is: Julia Goldsworthy MP, 75 Trelowarren Street, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 8AL

3. Letters may also be copied to Postwatch, the Government watchdog. The address is: POSTWATCH, 28 Grosvenor Gardens, London.

4. A petition is also available online at www.savecornwallspostoffices.org.uk