MP meets with Minister to discuss campaign to bring back post office services to Hawkshead and Shap

Last night, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron met with the Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake over the campaign to restore post offices to the villages of Hawkshead and Shap.

Following the resignation of the Postmaster, Hawkshead Post Office was closed at the end of last year. Meanwhile Shap has been without a post office since February after the couple running the newsagents retired. The village shop in Shap has very recently reopened but has yet to be given permission to run post office services.

During the meeting, the Minister agreed to put pressure on Post Office Ltd to get post office services back up and running in both villages.

Meanwhile Tim also pressed the Minister to force banks to give more financial support to local post offices to help carry out banking services.

The Minister told Tim that the banks have saved an estimated £2.5bn from closing down their high street branches.

Tim also challenged the Government to U-turn on their controversial decision to remove DVLA services from post offices from next April, fearing it could exclude some elderly and disabled people from essential services.

Speaking after the meeting Tim said: “I’m really grateful for the Minister’s time and for agreeing to support us to bring back post office services to Shap and Hawkshead.

“Post offices are vital community hubs and I believe they could have a really bright future as a one-stop shop to access Government services.

“Which is why I’m very keen to see the Government to rethink their decision to remove DVLA services from post offices.

“This is a lifeline for many vulnerable people who are not confident using the internet – so to exclude them from being able to renew their driving licence or paying their road tax in person would be completely wrong.”