Local Euro MP Brian Simpson has supported calls from Age concern for the government to support our rural post offices. Mr Simpson; a member of the postal trade union CWU, and a former spokesman on postal affairs in the European Parliament, believes the government  needs to take a decision soon on continuing the 150 million pound a year subsidy to the Royal Mail to enable the 8000 rural sub post  offices to carry on their valuable work. 

"I know the government has set up a special cabinet sub committee under John Prescott to look at the whole future of the Post Office network including rural offices. That Committee faces the difficult decision of balancing the commercial realities with the social needs; but unless we protect our Post Office network the risk of social isolation becomes greater for many, many people" Said Mr Simpson.

A poll conducted for age concern showed that 99% of older people living in rural areas consider their local post office a "lifeline" and more than 50% feared that closure would leave them isolated. Although the existing agreement still has 18 months to run, any delay in the government's decision could have an adverse effect on local sub post offices which in the main are run as small businesses.

Mr Simpson accepts that the government has invested in the postal network in the past and that it is looking to create a network that matches the needs of customers as well as local communities. But he fears that the social importance of the sub post office network could be lost. 

"What I hope the government will recognise is that sub post offices particularly; but not exclusively in rural areas; are a focal point for many people. They have a much wider role to play than the mere selling of postage stamps, and that subsidy can be justified on social inclusion grounds alone. For me the subsidy must be renewed to ensure that the essential services provided to the rural areas, including sub post offices can be accessed not just by older people but by everybody" Said Mr Simpson.