Political Opinion: Lib Dem MP urges local people to “speak up” for North East Fife’s Post Offices

Chamberlain’s call comes as the UK Government prepares to close its consultation on its plan for the future of the Post Office. The Government said it’s considering changes such as reducing the total number of post office branches across the UK, scrapping rules ensuring that Post Offices are available near people’s homes, and limiting the services Post Offices offer.

The Liberal Democrats have warned that if they go ahead, these plans could spell disaster for communities across the UK, as millions of people rely on their local Post Office for a range of vital services.

Separately, the Government has warned that over a hundred Post Office branches directly owned by the company are at risk of shutting down. The news has been met with fierce backlash by local residents.

The Liberal Democrats have said that the Government must give communities a cast iron guarantee that vital services and Post Office jobs across the UK will be protected. Local MP Wendy Chamberlain is calling on the North East Fife community to put forward their own responses to the consultation before it closes at midnight on Monday.

Although no branches in North East Fife are currently earmarked for closure, Chamberlain said that the risk is still real. The Anstruther post office shut its doors in 2022 when the postmistress retired, and hasn't been replaced. Anstruther also faced the closure of its delivery office earlier this year. Meanwhile eight others across the constituency have closed in recent years. Post Offices remain open in some towns, including in St Andrews, Cupar, Leven, Newburgh and several of our smaller villages, but Chamberlain warned that the Government’s changes could put these vital community assets under further pressure.

Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “Our Post Offices are beacons of our high streets and our community here in North East Fife. From Christmas cards to parcels, to access to cash, it keeps us connected and allows everyone to access a range of essential services.

“I am relieved that, for now, none of our branches in North East Fife are directly under threat – but we’ve already seen closures, such as the Anstruther delivery office, and we know how damaging they can be. Small towns and rural villages across North East Fife rely heavily on their Post Office.

“We’ve got a last chance to tell the UK Government just how important our local Post Offices are, and that they must not make it harder for people to access the vital services they provide. I urge everyone across our community, from St Andrews to Cupar, Anstruther to Newburgh, to speak up before the consultation closes on Monday.”

The consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/green-paper-future-of-post-office/green-paper-future-of-post-office#how-to-respond