Thank You - Massive response to Liberal Democrat post office campaign as consultation closes

4.57.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Sep 2008

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Kevin Lang at Goldenacre Post Office. He has thanked local people for their support for the LibDem campaign to save the branch.

Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh North & Leith have thanked the thousands of local residents who have backed their campaign to save local post offices, after the public consultation on the possible closure of three local branches came to an end.

In August, Post Office bosses announced plans to close three branches - Goldenacre, Pilrig Toll and Elm Row. Since then, local Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners have been working hard to encourage local people to formally object during the six week consultation that closed yesterday.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith, Kevin Lang said, "I would like to thank the thousands of local residents who have backed our campaign, not just to save Goldenacre, Pilrig Toll and Elm Row post offices, but against Labour's mass post office closure programme. We received a terrific response and I am particularly grateful to those who didn't necessarily need to use the post offices themselves but understood the hardship that would be caused to others if the branches close and as a result, gave their support.

"It is clear there is real and widespread anger that local branches, which are key parts of the communities they serve, have been put up for closure. People have been even more astonished that our local Labour MP tried to run his own campaign to save the post offices, just months after he voted to close them!

"We have fought an excellent campaign with the immense help of local residents. We have put forward clear reasons to keep the branches open. We shall see if Post Office management pay attention to the views of local people."