Elliott warns of Rural Post Office Closures
Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has warned that hundreds of post offices throughout Northern Ireland could face closure as a result of Government’s refusal to renew a £1bn contract.
Tom said: “The Government have announced in the House of Lords last week that it will no longer fund Post Office Card accounts which are used to pay pensions and benefits to four million people in the United Kingdom. These replaced the old system of booklets and cash over the counter.
“There was major upheaval for many people on benefits, especially pensioners when the booklets and cash system was removed. Are these people now going to have to endure more unnecessary stress and worry?
“Rural communities and inner cities could be the hardest hit if the accounts close and with many people without bank accounts, post office card accounts were convenient to collect benefits and pensions. If these are taken away many post offices could be forced to close due a reduction in business.
“It is my firm belief that if you take the small rural schools and the post offices out of the community, the community will die. Government must realise that it is essential to provide basic facilities for the many people who still wish to live and work in rural parts of Northern Ireland.
“We have witnessed over the last number of years the enormous number of post offices that have been forced to close in rural areas and even in our larger towns. Many of the post offices have been relocated into shops and supermarkets and this is a further blow to the many people who depend on this service and is a lifeline for many elderly residents.
“As far as I am aware no consultations have taken place with sub postmasters about this decision despite the work carried out by the Post Office to modernise it’s systems and this decision should be reversed.”