Post Office account decision welcomed (From Somerset County Gazette)

Post Office account decision welcomed

9:30am Tuesday 18th November 2008 in News By Joanna Glover

THE Government’s decision to save the Post Office Card Account could be a lifeline for rural towns and villages according to Taunton MP Jeremy Browne and Somerset County Council’s LibDem group.

The announcement that the contract will be awarded to Post Office Limited for another five years from April 2010 to March 2015 puts a stop to the unfinished tendering process that threatened to take the service away from Somerset’s remaining Post Offices.

The LibDem’s at County Hall said that without the income generated by the POCA, the Post Offices and neighbouring shops would have been put at considerable risk. Cllr Sam Crabb said: “We have pressed the Government about this time and time again and at last it seems our message has got through. “Our motion also recognised the essential work being done by Somerset’s Post Office Network Review Group to identify ways to support the remaining Post Office branch network in Somerset and maintain access to vital services in rural areas.” MP Jeremy Browne said: “Hundreds of people from across Taunton Deane wrote to me expressing their concern about the Post Office Card Account.

“If the contract had been taken away from the Royal Mail there would have been dozens of extra post office closures in Somerset.

“I campaigned vigorously for the retention of the Post Office Card Account and I am relieved that the Government has made this decision.

He added: “I am pleased this period of uncertainty has come to an end and the right outcome has finally been reached. I want to maintain what is left of Somerset's post office network.”