8:20am Wednesday 2nd April 2008
By Kevin Bradford
Hundreds of signatures were handed to MPs this week as part of this paper's campaign to fight post office closures.
More than 500 people took a stance against Government plans to shut eight branches in the borough by joining an online and postal petition.
The signatures were was presented to Hendon Labour MP Andrew Dismore, Finchley and Golders Green Labour MP Rudi Vis, and Chipping Barnet Conservative MP Theresa Villiers at the Houses of Parliament, in Westminster, on Monday.
The names will join thousands of others collected by residents, post offices and MPs across the borough.
The handover follows a six-week public consultation which ended on Wednesday.
Dr Vis, who has five proposed closures in his constituency, said: "I fear some post offices may have to close since it is totally uneconomic to run them, but one should never forget the post office is not just a business but an institution.
"We have received many emails and letters against the closures and it was fantastic the Times Series organised a survey and presented us with a very large number of petitions, which we will present to Number 10 Downing Street."
Mr Dismore, whose constituency faces one closure, said: "I hope the Post Office will take notice of what we have had to say. The fact remains each branch should be assessed on merit.
"It is always important people make their views known and fight as hard as we can to stop the closures."
Ms Villiers, who has been a strong campaigner against the plans to shut two branches in her constituency, said: "I am delighted to be able to support the Times Series petition to save our local post offices, and it is fantastic so many people have signed up to the Times Series petition and to mine.
"We need to fight to keep them and I will continue to put all the pressure I can on the Government and the Post Office to stop these closure plans in my constituency."
This week a Barnet Council scrutiny committee condemned the Government for proposing 2,500 closures nationally and argued the consultation period was too short.
There were also calls for improved working links between the council, Post Office and Postwatch to ensure the community is not severely affected by closures.
The Post Office, sub-postmasters and independent watchdog Postwatch were represented at the meeting where the committee agreed on seven recommendations, which will be put to the Post Office if it is approved by cabinet members tonight.
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