MP slams Putney Post Office decision

MP slams Putney Post Office decision

Putney MP, Tony Colman, today (Tuesday) expressed outright opposition to privatisation of the Post Office by stealth and slammed the Post Office's decision to franchise Putney Crown Post Office.

Having secured an adjournment debate in Parliament, Mr Colman spoke strongly about the deal done between the Post Office and the franchisee, the need for a local Post Office as a centrepoint of the community, and the lack of real consultation.

The Minister in charge of the Post Office, Douglas Alexander MP, was required to respond to Mr Colman's scathing remarks.

Putney Post Office is an issue of great concern to Putney residents. Speaking today, after the debate Mr Colman said:

"There are many issues at stake here - not least the long term provision of Crown Post Offices in town centres. Today I have called for a new look by Ministers at how decisions are made, at how public consultation is carried out and at selling valuable assets off for short term gain.

"I have called for better treatment of staff, shorter franchises, for the Post Office to re-develop valuable sites, like the one in Putney, themselves, and a 'call in' power for the Minister, to enable deals to be examined properly"

"We all as users of Post Offices suffer, as well as staff and the public purse, when deals are done in this manner. We need more consultation that is taken into account, a longer term view of the future of profitable Post Offices, and a bit more common sense."