ANGER AS ROYAL MAIL REFUSES TO ATTEND CORNWALL-WIDE POST OFFICES RALLY

4.30.00pm GMT Tue 12th Aug 2008

POST OFFICE campaigners in Cornwall are furious after Royal Mail turned down an invitation to a rally to discuss its closure programme across the county.

The Liberal Democrats invited a representative of Post Office Ltd to speak at the county-wide rally, due to take place at Bodmin Shire Hall on Monday, August 25.

The party organised the rally in response to demands from local residents, who wanted an explanation from Post Office Ltd as to why certain Post Offices were to close.

Specifically, residents wanted to know why some Post Offices on the closure list were profit-making businesses, while others provided the only village shop.

But bosses at Royal Mail refused to attend the rally, citing the fact that the meeting was on a Bank Holiday.

Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy said she was outraged by the move.

She said: "From the outset, we warned that having the consultation over the holiday period would cause problems for many people.

"The Post Office agreed to extend the consultation by one week - but the fact that they themselves are not prepared to attend this rally just reinforces our concerns."

Julia added that the meeting was scheduled on a Bank Holiday enable local postmasters and mistresses to attend.

She said: "If this consultation process is to mean anything at all, the Government should insist that Post Office Ltd attends this meeting, and gives us a full explanation of their plans.

"They should not underestimate the level of anger about this closure programme. A failure by Royal Mail to attend this rally will be seen as pouring petrol on the flames."

Post Office Ltd has however agreed to attend a meeting about concerning three Post Offices in Falmouth, organised by the town council, on August 20.

Terrye Teverson, the Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Falmouth said: "I am pleased that Post Office Ltd have agreed to visit Falmouth, and I understand their time is limited.

"However, this is a consultation process, and I believe they also have a duty to attend Cornwall rally in Bodmin, to explain their actions to the people of Cornwall as a whole."

The rally in Bodmin will still go ahead from 7.30pm on Monday, August 25. Speakers will include local postmasters and campaigners.