Press Releases for 2005
THE LAST POST? POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN WEST KENT
7th January 2005The closure of sub Post Offices in West Kent is a direct discrimination against the elderly who depend upon them, claims Dr Hazel Dawe, Campaigns Officer of Kent Green Party(1). A post office is a basic community facility for the young and old without access to a car about 25% of the adult population. Closing Post Offices may well reduce passing trade for other shops in the same area, leading to loss of local shops and jobs. Gillingham is hardest hit in Kent with FOUR closures. Dr Hazel Dawe comments:
"This Government does not believe in sustainable communities. The loss of an essential service in any small urban or rural community hits the vulnerable first. Kent Green Party is supporting the Campaign for Sustainable Communities, which is gathering support for a Bill(2) to stem the decline of community facilities throughout England. This decline is related to the limited share of public spending allowed to our local councils. Our councils must have a larger overall share of public spending to help maintain and develop better community facilities for both the elderly and the young.
"West Kent sub post offices to close are: Greenacres, Aylesford; Albany Park, Bexley; Alford Road, Erith; Broadview, Gillingham Station, Mill Road and Spekes Road all in Gillingham; Chalk and Northfleet both in Gravesend; Allen Street, Maidstone; Grosvenor Wood and Sherwood, both Tunbridge Wells." ENDS C234 words
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Dr Hazel Dawe on 01233 645167 or 07747 014487. Contact address as above.
Notes:
1. Full list of Post Offices to close appears at www.guardian.co.uk/post 2. 7000 individuals and 300 local organisations have signed up to support the campaign 237 MPs have signed up to Early Day Motion 169 in Parliament supporting the Sustainable Communities Bill. Campaign Forum Members: ACT Active Citizens Transform, BASSAC, British Independent Fruit Growers Association, CAMRA, Charter 88, Community Composting Network, Community Recycling Network, CTC National Cyclists' Organisation, Ecology Building Society, FARM, Farm Retail Association, Friends of the Earth, Living Streets, London Wildlife Trust, National Association of Farmers' Markets, National Association of Small Schools, National Federation of Community Organisations, National Federation of Retail Newsagents, National Federation of Women's Institutes, National Pharmacy Association, Public and Commercial Services Union, Resurgence Magazine, Shelter, Small and Family Farmers' Association, SIBA - Society of Independent Brewers, Soil Association, Sustain, Sustainable Energy Partnership, Transport 2000, Triodos Bank, UKVillages, UNISON.
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