Despite the significant consultation that has taken place with residents through a series of public meetings, it seems that the Post Office has totally ignored Calderdale Council's submission.
The report outlined not only the impact the closu
res would have on the local communities but also a significant number of factual inaccuracies in the data used by Post Office.
Yet it took the Post Office 10 days even to acknowledge the report and even then it sent only a generic statement with no specific mention of Calderdale or the points raised.
Again, the response received from PostWatch merely stated its role was to ensure that due process was followed but it cannot overturn any decision.
This so called watchdog, costing the taxpayer around £9 million a year, has absolutely no powers in relation to fundamental decisions.
For vital community facilities to be closed based on wholly inaccurate data is not only fundamentally wrong. I truly believe it is morally wrong.
As a result I give my assurance that I will be ensuring this decision is challenged.
Maybe now is also the time for our local MPs to admit they were wrong in backing the Govern-ment's policy for closure and to stand up and support the people they represent, rather than the grey suits in Westminster.
Craig Whittaker
(Con, Rastrick; Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate, Calder Valley)
The full article contains 251 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
