Burnham-On-Sea’s MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, has added his signature to a 1,000 name petition demanding that the Government drops controversial plans to axe Post Office Card Accounts by 2010.
The MP argues that the plans could threaten the future of post offices like Burnham’s because vital trade will be taken away.
The petition – which is being backed by National Federation of SubPostmasters – calls on the Government not to axe Post Office card accounts.
“Without these accounts bringing customers and money into town post offices like the one here in Burnham, many post offices could face closure,” the MP told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Watched by Burnham post office staff, the MP signed the petition on Saturday morning, May 13th.
Three years ago, when pensioners and others on benefits were told they could no longer receive payments in cash, many took the Post Office’s advice and opened a card account, which allows benefits, pensions and tax credits to be collected at post offices using a card and PIN.
They thought that doing so secured the future of their post office branch – but now they fear the worst.
“If the account is scrapped – as the Government has indicated it will be – pensioners and other benefits recipients will be forced to use their banks, taking away revenue from post offices,” said Mr Heathcoat-Amory.
“Post offices are the hub of town centres. These proposals threaten not only the post offices themselves, but the social infrastructure of communities.”
Burnham SubPostmaster Alistair Graham told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’ve had superb support from our customers so far.”
“To collect so many signatures in just a few weeks shows the strength of feeling there is.”
The Government argues that the number of people picking up payments at Post Offices across the UK has fallen from 13 million to about 4 million – and that it makes sense to cut costs by scrapping the accounts.
Our photo at the top of this page shows MP David Heathcoat-Amory signing the petition watched by Burnham-On-Sea post office staff Iris Leeming, Julie Holmes, Kayleigh Burke and Alistair Graham
.HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Back The National Federation of SubPostmasters by signing its petition for the Government to drop plans to axe the Post Office card account by visiting Burnham Post Office and signing the petition.
• Support your local post office. Use the branch whenever you can for postal, banking and other needs.
• Write to The National Federation of SubPostmasters at Evelyn House, 22 Windlesham Gardens, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5AZ.
