KEETCH CALLS FOR NON-POLITICAL RESPONSE TO POST OFFICE CLOSURES CONSULTATION

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 1st Aug 2008

The imminent announcement of proposed Post Office closures across Herefordshire has prompted Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, to call upon his counterpart in the north of the County, Bill Wiggin MP and the group Leaders on Herefordshire Council to meet with him to plan a joint response to the consultation, putting aside any political differences they may have.

The Members of Parliament will be given advance notification of the proposals, with the information being made public on 27 August.

"The proposals won't just affect my constituency - there will be consequences right across the county and I believe Bill Wiggin and I - along with the leaders of the main groups on the Council - need to come together to discuss how we can achieve the best for the County when we formulate our response," Mr Keetch said.

"I have invited Bill, Councillors Roger Phillips, Bob Matthews, Chris Chappell and Terry James to meet me and representatives from Postwatch and Post Office Limited, along with the Council's Parish Liaison Officer, to decide upon an appropriate response to the consultation, that takes account of the needs of the county and its residents.

"If the MPs don't do this jointly we might find our individual efforts have knock- on effects across the constituency boundaries that are detrimental and basically non-productive. We must approach the matter at a strategic, county-wide level and not devote time to localising the proposals - there would be little value, it seems to me, in meeting with those from affected areas alone without taking account of neighbouring services and facilities. There will have to be a degree of compromise at the very least so we must plan and submit our response to get the very best solution for Herefordshire in its entirety.

"I very much hope that all will agree to this meeting and that politics on this occasion can be set aside," the Hereford MP added.