MP calls on town residents to save Bengeworth Post Office (From Evesham Journal)

MP calls on town residents to save Bengeworth Post Office

2:46pm Monday 1st September 2008 in News By Steve Mather

EVESHAM residents must do all they can to help save the closure threatened Bengeworth Post Office according to a local MP.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has called on people in the town to show their support for postmistress Pearl Bennett who is facing the prospect of having her business closed down after a six week consultation period which started last week.

However Mr Luff believes that a strong show of public support will force the government to think again and that Bengeworth Post Office can be saved. He is urging local people to write letters of objection to help take the campaign forward.

He said: “Evesham needs all four of its post offices. They each serve distinct communities and the closure of any of them is totally unacceptable. Pearl has done an outstanding job in marshalling the arguments against closure and beginning the campaign.

“Now we must all get behind her if we are going to save the office and with only six weeks of consultation, we have to hurry. We face a tough battle and to win it we need two things, a well argues case and strong evidence of public support.

“The arguments against closure include the proposed development of hundreds of new homes in the area, the office is the only local banking facility, the difficult journey to alternative offices and the wider impact on Bengeworth of the loss of this crucial service.”

Local councillors are also rallying behind the campaign with town mayor Alan Booth, Wychavon members Martin King, Emma Stokes and Worcestershire’s Bob Banks all expressing outrage at the proposal.

Letters of objection should be sent to Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp needed) or e-mailed to consultation@postoffice.co.uk by Tuesday, October 7.