§ 7 pm
§ Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con)Mr. Brian Keeler is a stalwart campaigner for his community and he has compiled a massive petition to save the Benfleet High road post office from closure. He is right to do that because our post offices are part of the fabric of our society, giving viability to fragile shopping parades and areas and offering much needed facilities to the elderly and to families, especially those who do not have cars. I am most grateful to him and to others, such as Elliott Ward, who signed the front sheet of the petition. Elliott may be from a younger generation than Brian Keeler, but his signature shows how the whole community, young and elderly alike, is prepared to come together because it cherishes and wants to keep open our post office network.
1515 The petition states:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The Humble Peititon of Mr. Brian Keeler and others of like disposition shewethThat residents of Castle Point and particularly Benfleet are deeply concerned by the threat to their post office at 18A High road Benfleet and believe that the threat of closure of this post office damages the fabric of our community and closure would be severely detrimental to residents and to our shopping area.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urge the Government to change its policies. on post office closures and on the payment of benefits and pensions and the provision of full banking services so that post offices are able to be more viable and retained.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.To lie upon the Table.