MP calls for Littlehampton post office move to be scrapped

Thousands of people have signed the petition against proposals to move Littlehamptons Crown post office

Nick Gibb raised the issue of the future of the Littlehampton Crown post office in the House of Commons last Wednesday, during Mr Cable’s statement announcing the privatisation of Royal Mail.

Mr Gibb said he welcomed Mr Cable’s statement on the flotation of Royal Mail, adding: “He gave a commitment to no further closures by Post Office Ltd. Will he, therefore, look into proposals by Post Office Ltd to close the Crown post office in Littlehampton and move it to the back of a shop, against the wishes of thousands of my constituents and against the wishes and interests of businesses located in that part of Littlehampton?”

Mr Cable replied: “There are indeed many individual cases which are difficult, often because postmasters or postmistresses wish to retire, but the big picture in respect of the Post Office, which I hope my hon. friend will recognise, is that we have stopped the mass closure of post offices that took place under the previous Government.

“We have a network of 11,500 post offices which we are preserving. This Government, despite the financial pressures on them, committed themselves over this spending review to spending £1.3bn on modernising and upgrading the Post Office and giving it a real future.”

Speaking to the Gazette after the debate, Mr Gibb said: “The Government has given a commitment that there will be no new post office closure programmes. This commitment should extend to the network of Crown post offices.

“Littlehampton’s Crown post office is an important asset to the town and is used by thousands of individuals and businesses. Its location in The Arcade is an important magnet to attract shoppers to other businesses in the area. I strongly believe that any proposal by Post Office Limited to move the Crown post office into an existing retail store is short-sighted and misjudged.

“I have followed up my question to the Business Secretary with a letter urging him to fulfil the Government’s pledge against further post office closures by ordering Post Office Ltd to abandon its proposals to move Littlehampton’s Crown post office.”