Breakthrough for post office campaigners (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Breakthrough for post office campaigners

8:41am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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CAMPAIGNERS trying to save condemned post offices in Gloucestershire believe there has been a breakthrough this week after a deal made by Essex County Council and Post Office Ltd will save half the post offices in Essex.

The Save Our Post Offices group, started by the socialist party in Stroud, believes the deal will pave the way for Gloucestershire County Council to hammer out a similar rescue package.

Essex County Council spokesman Giles Roca said this week: "We can now provide a model which can be used to save post offices through the intervention of over 100 county, district and town councils who have contacted us for advice on how to go down the same route.

"Post Office Ltd has agreed that our model can be used across the country."

Save Our Post Offices is now calling on Barry Dare to demand an immediate response from PO Ltd to the proposals.

Group spokesman Chris Moore said: "We feel this is a significant breakthrough and offers GCC an opportunity to save some of Gloucestershire's post offices."

But GCC insists that it is doing all it can to save as many post offices in the county as possible and believes the socialist party's efforts are politically motivated.

Barry Dare, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Gloucestershire County Council has already made its position on Post Offices very clear.

"We will be making no further comment on the Socialist Party's political campaign."

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