MPs hear plans for post offices

Mar 14, 2009

A committee of MPs are in Essex to hear residents' views about the county council scheme to reopen post offices closed under a national programme.

The Business and Enterprise Select Committee will attend a public meeting at Shire Hall.

It comes days after the council announced branches in White Notley and Braintree would reopen.

Last year, the council set aside £1.5m to open up to 15 branches which shut under the closure programme.

Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield said: "Reopening these post offices is rather like buying a house, a lot of hard work and negotiations have to take place but we are determined to do it as quickly as we can.

"Post offices in Essex are incredibly important and feedback from residents in areas where we have already re-opened sites has been very positive.

"The fact that the Select Committee is taking such an unusual step to leave Westminster and visit Essex shows how important the work we are doing has been."

Source: BBC