Post Office petition launched

LIBERAL Democrats in Gateshead have joined with colleagues from throughout the country to launch a petition calling on the government to reverse its decision to stop pensioners getting their pensions through post offices.

The government has taken the decision to end the Post Office Card Account (POCA) by 2010 and force pensioners to get their pension through banks instead.

Many post offices rely on the payment they receive for paying out pensions to stay in business. The loss of the income is expected to lead to many post office branches closing.

“We have launched the petition as we believe that post offices are important to local communities and pensioners should have the choice of using a post office or a bank to collect their pension,” said Councillor Jonathan Wallace.

“Over the past four years, a fifth of the post office branches in the North East have closed. The loss of the payment branches receive for handing POCA will be the death knell for many.

“There is not even a saving to the taxpayer as the banks will be paid to handle the cash instead.

“The government have made it very difficult for people to open a post office card account. Nevertheless, 5 million have done so. They opted to use the local post office rather than a bank as, in most instances, they are more convenient.

“Post office closures will be the inevitable result of this government decision. And that means whole communities will be worse off.”