MP secures promise from minister to investigate ‘bogus’ post office consultation

Local MP Tim Farron met with the post office minister Kelly Tolhurst in Westminster this week to raise his concerns about industry bosses treating the closure of Kendal Post Office as a done deal.

Following Post Office Ltd's drop-in session to discuss the proposed move to the much smaller WHSmith store last month, Tim received a flurry of emails from local residents who were categorically told by post office staff that the move would definitely be going ahead.

As well as this, Post Office Ltd have already submitted a planning application for post office signage for the WHSmith store and are already advertising for staff to work as counter clerks at the 'new post office' in Kendal's WHSmith.

The minister told Tim that she was concerned about any consultation being pre-emptive and agreed to look into the matter.

Tim said: "I'm very grateful to the minister for meeting me and fellow MPs who have concerns about the closure and relocation of post offices in our constituencies.

"I told the minister that the plans to move our crown post office in Kendal into the much smaller WHSmith store was unworkable - anyone who has ever been into WHSmith knows there isn't enough room to swing a cat in there.

"But the main issue I raised with her was that post office bosses were attempting to take local people for a ride with this bogus, pre-determined consultation. And so it's really welcome news that she has agreed to investigate this."