As the Talbot Ward Councillors we say that we must all take a stand on this issue because we strongly believe that the short term profit motivated reasoning behind the proposed closure of our Post Offices is seriously flawed. Our stance is affirmed by the amount of feedback that we have received from local residents who like ourselves believe that the closure raises a number of serious concerns.

Worse still we fear that there may be more closures to follow and the proposed closures of our community Post Offices is wholly wrong for a number of reasons. These closures disadvantage many in our society but especially young mothers with prams, the disabled and elderly users. It also has an impact on other businesses in the area as peolple visiting the Post Office also bring in much needed additional trade for them.

Additionally there is the question of protecting our communities, it was bad enough when the Town Centre Post Office closed, The consequence of which is an iconic building standing empty and without the likelihood of any similar use in the future and if you want proof of the detrimental effect outlined above then here is a prime example. Everyone except the Post Office and WH Smiths said that the basement of WH Smiths was not fit for purpose and we have now tragically seen the death of a lady resulting from a fall on the stairs to that basement.

Finally but no less important we need to ask what will happen to the staff many of whom have given long and faithful service, what impact will this have on their well being?

Our Post Offices are part of our community and they are worth fighting for. This Labour government is the only shareholder in the Post Office which effectiively means that they own it. Yet all we get from Gordon Brown are platitudes when he above all should be protecting our communities and Britsh way of life. We have two Labour MP's in this town who presumably have the ear of Gordon Brown and we urge you to lobby them and by so doing protect our British way of life.