Please could Members leaving the Chamber do so silently and quickly.

I rise on behalf of petitioners in North Shropshire. Oswestry post office is one of 115 larger Crown, or directly managed, branches that have been listed at risk of closure by the Post Office. Its closure would leave many residents without easy access to essential postal and banking services, which are particularly important for elderly residents, small businesses and those without access to reliable public transport. An online petition with similar wording to the petition that I present today has been signed by 2,668 people.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to guarantee the future of Oswestry Crown post office.

And the petitioners remain, etc.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the constituency of North Shropshire,

Declares that Oswestry Crown Post Office has been earmarked for potential closure, removing vital mail, money, travel, identity and driving services from the town centre; further declares Oswestry Crown Post Office’s role as an essential community service at the heart of Oswestry; notes that high streets in towns are already facing huge challenges, including business rate hikes and loss of bank branches; further that North Shropshire is one of the worst served constituency in the England for public transport, and this poses a significant challenge to accessing vital services that crown post offices provide; and further notes that 2,668 people have signed an online petition on this matter.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to guarantee the future of Oswestry Crown post office.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]