CONCERN over post office closures has sparked a campaign to give residents more time to voice their views.

As reported by the Citizen, Morecambe's Poulton Square post office is the latest urban branch in the area to announce plans to shut.

The news triggered some dismay - but the Post Office says only five people responded during the consultation period.

It was therefore felt closure was the best step because of falling customer numbers, rising costs and increased consumer choice in how benefits are paid.

But Lancashire county councillors says one-month is not enough to allow people to respond - and have written to postal services minister Stephen Timms MP seeking more time.

Overview and scrutiny committee chairman Cllr Wendy Dwyer says: "We understand the Post Office has to save money and must streamline', but they must not forget that many people value their local offices.

"One month is an incredibly short period for people to give a proper response. Parish councils, who represent large parts of Lancashire, may only meet every six weeks so they could be cut out of the consultation completely.

"At this rate we could lose hundreds of post offices before local people have even had chance to mount a fight."

Royal Mail spokesman Wendy Martin says the consultation period is well established and agreed with Post Watch, while the closures are part of a planned programme which has been under way for more than six months.

"In each case a sub-postmaster has indicated he or she wants to go because life is tough," she adds. "So far in Lancashire we have closed eight and we are consulting on a further three. Before any post office closes we do embark on this public consultation process."

May 29, 2003 09:30