IT'S a shame that local Tory councillors are playing politics with Hardwick Road post office instead of being prepared to work together to oppose the closure.
Contrary to the councillor's comments in the Express report, neither party voted for or against closures in the post office debate on March 19. However Conservative MPs did vote against £1.7bn extra funding for the post office – investment that I bac
ked in order to help keep post offices open.
Post offices are losing money because more people are choosing to use bank accounts and the internet. That's why they need support not just slogans.
Last week I met senior post office officials to give them my research which shows their plan to close Hardwick Road breaks their own rules and should be reversed. The Post Office has been told by government that 95 per cent of the urban population should be within a mile of a post office.
If Hardwick Road closes then my research shows only around 80 per cent of Pontefract will be covered - and that's not fair on local people. I will also be meeting Postwatch this week to make them aware of the strong arguments against the closure.
I hope the community can continue to come together to win the argument to save the Hardwick Road post office and not become distracted by some local Tories who are playing political games.
YVETTE COOPER MP
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