I rise to present a petition that represents the views of many thousands of my constituents who believe, as I do, that the Government should adopt a positive policy of supporting post offices. Post office closures hurt the whole community, but they disproportionately hurt vulnerable people, in particular the disabled, pensioners and people with young families. I warmly congratulate and thank the good and caring residents of my constituency who took the trouble to sign this petition and send it to me during the recess.

The petition states:

The Humble Petition of the residents of Castle Point and others,

Sheweth

That our local post offices are important to community cohesion, that they provide a vital service to the local community, particularly to vulnerable people, but that their future is threatened by uncertainty over Her Majesty’s Government’s support for post offices generally, and specifically by the possible abolition of the Post Office card account in 2010, which would be totally unacceptable to the residents of Castle Point, especially vulnerable groups who rely on post offices and the viability of our important high street shopping parades.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House call upon Her Majesty’s Government to review its policy on post offices and to recognise that they are greatly loved by the community.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, & c.

[P000268]