IN MY 20 years as a constituency MP I have rarely come across an issue that has caused such significant concern to such a large number of my constituents but the threat to eight of our post offices has done just that.
Every day I receive letters from people who are gravely concerned about the prospect of their local branch being forced to close its doors.
The majority of letters come from elderly people who rely on the services that their post office provide
s and who have relatively limited access to other branches.
But also affected are people with mobility problems, parents looking after young children at home and small business owners.
Reading these letters proves time and time again how true it is to say that post offices are at the heart of their local communities.
It's not just about selling stamps and dishing out TV licence forms – post offices are places where people meet their neighbours and catch-up on community news. People value their local post office just as much as they need the services they offer.
I'm currently compiling my formal submission to the public consultation on the threatened closures and I recognise that I'm in the unique position of being able to represent the views of the people of the entire Horsham Parliamentary constituency.
That's why in this week's County Times I have appealed to readers to write to me to explain just what an impact the closure of their local branch will have on their lives (report page five).
Whether you are someone who would simply be unable to travel to your nearest alternative branch or a small business owner who relies on good access to a post office, I want to hear about it.
It will help me make it clear to Post Office Ltd that the people of Horsham need their post offices and they deserve for them to remain open, serving their local communities.
I also want to take this opportunity to repeat my second appeal to readers – please don't just write to me.
It's absolutely vital that people offer their own views and concerns to Post Office Ltd during this period of public consultation.
So please, nip into your local branch and find out how you can make your voice heard or log on to
www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange to find out more.
It really is up to us as a community to make our opinions clear and we only have until Christmas Eve to do just that.
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