<font color="#FF0000">POST</font>

Sometimes the word "crisis" is overworked. But with rural post offices under increasing threat of closure, "crisis" is an uncomfortably apt description.

The village post office has been a vital part of life ever since the Royal Mail began. It provides an important service to the public - and for many folk it is a genuine lifeline and social centre too.

The economics of running post offices is extremely tight. They can rarely afford to be stand-alone traders. But even operating as general stores they face the challenge of the supermarkets and the squeeze of the Royal Mail itself.

The Government has now agreed to a large number of post office changes and closures. In our area they want to down-grade Kilve and shut Bicknoller, Basinbridgeand West Quantoxhead altogether.

In their place a new generation of sub-post offices may be rolled out - literally - on wheels:

They can't be serious?

I looked flabbergasted when the chap from the Post Office tried to sell me the idea.

After all you can't get many customers in the back of a van, and they don't sell bread and milk either.

The idea is certainly better than a slap in the eye with a wet fish, but I would rather keep the little branches thanks very much

I pledge to challenge both the Post Office and the Government to try and reverse the decision.

Help me in the continuing fight: CONTACT ME

Winsford is the kind of place you visit once and never want to leave. It is positively lovely. The views across Exmoor are tremendous. The people are a delight. It comes complete with a thatched pub and a wonderful combined Post Office and general store. We all thought the fight to save the Post Office was well and truly won. It wasn't on the official hit list. Common sense had prevailed. And then, out of the blue, the faceless managers changed their minds. Now the axe is hanging over the place. I have already raised merry hell about Post Office closures. Shutting them down is bad enough even after proper consultation. But this flies in the face of everything the residents had been promised. I will do whatever I can to help save a valuable public service. Winsford Post Office isn't just a place to buy a stamp, it is a vital part of the way of Winsford life. Residents have a right to know that their cause is far from forgotten.

Your Local MP

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