Mid Sussex MP, Nicholas Soames, met with Executives from the Post Office Ltd this afternoon, at the House of Commons, to be briefed on the proposals to close four Post Offices in the Mid Sussex constituency.

They propose to close two in Burgess Hill and two in Haywards Heath.

Commenting after the meeting Nicholas Soames said; “I am grateful to the Post Office for giving me such a comprehensive brief on their proposals.

“I have already responded in detail to the Post Office on the 8th March and I am fully in support of the submission by the Mid Sussex District Council in March to the DTI.

“I will be considering how best to respond to the Post Office after consultation with the four branches concerned and with Leaders of the local community. I do not believe that the Post Office should consider branches in purely financial terms; there is clearly a vital social issue and the Government will undermine its own policy on sustainable communities if local people cannot access the kind of services they need.”

Mr Soames said; “The criteria for these closures has been set by the Government and I intend to deal with them robustly. I will be liaising with MSDC and the Town Councils of Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.

“I am relieved that the rural Post Offices will remain as they are.”

-ends-

Notes

• Network Change Programme – Area Plan Proposal for Sussex – consultation from the 13th November to 24th December 2007

• Mid Sussex – total number of Post Offices = 18

• Proposed number of closures = 4

o Church Road, Burgess Hill

o St John’s Common, Burgess Hill

o America Lane, Haywards Heath

o Franklands Village, Haywards Heath

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange