20th December 2006 For immediate release
Local MP calls on Chemist to reconsider Post Office closure plansLocal MP, John Healey, has asked Weldricks to reconsider their plans for turning the local Post Office at their Thorogate chemists into a new consulting room. The Post Office is currently located within Weldricks Chemist - an arrangement which is popular with local residents.
Mr Healey has also asked GPs who occupy the majority of the same building to consider allowing the chemist to set up a consulting room in the health centre, allowing the Post Office to stay in the chemist.The moves come after local residents raised concerns with the MP, amid fears that Thorogate will be left without a Post Office.
Mr Healey said: "Thorogate Post Office is a very popular and viable local business, which offers a range of services for local people.""Whilst I recognise that Weldricks plan to install a consulting room to improve their pharmacy service, I am urging them to reconsider their plans to see if there is any other way that both the consulting room and the Post Office can be accommodated within the same building."
Last week the Government announced a 12-week public consultation on proposals for supporting the Post Office network. These include plans to spend £1.7 billion between now and 2011 to support post office services and new criteria for access, designed in particular to protect people in deprived urban and remote areas. They also announced a successor to the Post Office card account, which MP John Healey had been urging fellow Government ministers to do:"This will enable people to continue getting their pension or benefits from their local Post Office, and help support business in Post Offices for the future." said Mr Healey.
~ ends ~Notes for Editors: For more information please contact Joanne Wilson, Research Officer to John Healey MP, Tel - (01709) 512463
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