THE proposed decimation of York's post office network has been condemned by councillors, as the public consultation on planned closures comes to an end.

City of York Council is today submitting its comments on plans to close four branches in the city, at Clifton Green, Haxby Road, Micklegate and Fulford.

The planned closures are among 50 in our region as a whole, and 2,500 across the country.

Members of the council's ruling executive yesterday had their final say on the plans, ahead of the consultation period closing tomorrow.

Coun Andrew Waller, executive member for neighbourhood services, said there was a sense of déjà vu in the plans, which came on the back of previous closures in 2003/04.

He said: "The Government have only been interested in milking profit, not reinvesting it where it is needed."

In a report to the executive, the council's assistant director of economic development, Roger Ranson, said: "No regard has been paid to the social role of post offices in communities, and how this could be preserved and built upon.

"Similarly little heed, if any, has been paid to the needs of small businesses, for whom the post offices provides a key link between themselves and their customers."

He said there were concerns that a "piecemeal" approach to closures, rather than a strict business argument, could lead to more branches having to shut in future.

Deputy council leader Ceredig Jamieson-Ball said Post Office Ltd had failed to consider the impact of individual closures on issues such as traffic.

"It would be a mad decision of the post office not to look at the impact on infrastructure when they are taking these decisions, and I do not see any evidence from the consultation that they were even looking at infrastructure."

Coun Christian Vassie accused the Government of allowing post offices' business opportunities to dwindle.


We take petition to Number 10

THE Press will today travel to Downing Street to present its Cut The Closures petition to the highest authority in the land.

We are calling on the Government to reconsider its programme of swingeing cuts to the Post Office network of York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.

In the short time since we launched the campaign in November, almost 5,500 people have signed our petition, calling for their local branch to be saved.

Postmasters, local councillors and MPs have been unanimous in their support for Cut The Closures.

Kevin Booth, editor of The Press, said: "Like our readers, we believe the Post Office provides a vital community service - especially in rural areas - over and above its role as a commercial concern. In many areas, Post Offices survive as the final piece in the community jigsaw; pubs and other amenities may have closed, but the local Post Office remains, providing a heart for the village.

"They offer a focal point, as well as a valuable service to the most vulnerable members of our society."

As well as calling on Number 10, we will deliver a copy of our petition to bosses at Royal Mail's Old Street headquarters.