WESTMORLAND MP URGES DVLA TO NOT WITHDRAW SERVICES FROM POST OFFICES

This afternoon, Westmorland MP Tim Farron has slammed the decision by the DVLA to not renew their contract with the Post Office which ends in April 2024.

At the moment, the option to renew road tax through the Post Office is a lifeline to elderly people or those in extremely rural communities due to poor signal or no access to the internet. This move by the DVLA would force road users to renew their tax online with no alternative.

Today, Tim has written to the CEO of the DVLA, Julie Lennard, and the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, urging them to reconsider this decision.

Additionally, the removal of the service is another blow to local Post Offices which are often lifelines in local, rural communities. Many Post Offices in rural areas are already under threat with several such as Hawkshead and Shap facing closure in recent months.

Tim said: "These plans could spell disaster for so many people. People in rural communities, without reliable access to the internet, the means to afford or understand online forms, or those who are visually impaired deserve equal access to Government services.

"We cannot expect people to fulfil basic statutory responsibilities, like paying for road tax, without access to a place to do that.

"Additionally, this is just another nail in the coffin by the Conservative Government to destroy our local services. They have already decimated Post Office incomes and they cannot afford another blow."

In his letter to the DVLA CEO and Transport Secretary Tim has asked for an immediate stop to these plans and has said he will continue to fight for both the preservation of Post Offices and access to Government services for all.