Jill Oberlin Harris (SNJ Dec 8) is absolutely right to say the Government must take a major share of the blame for the closure of Post Offices through their diversion of pension and benefit payments away from Post Offices and by making the rules under which they expect Post Office counters to operate.  I have raised this point in the Stroud Council chamber despite criticism from Labour and Conservative members.

However TESCO also have a specific responsibility in the case of the Paganhill Post Office.  They bought a shop with an existing Post Office counter and I believe they should show some loyalty to the existing users: 'loyalty' works both ways you know! 

I welcome efforts to find a solution, and have been in contact with TESCO and the Post Office over this.  However we mustn't be hoodwinked: the alternative counter must be sustainable, have similar opening hours and provide a similar level of service to the current counter.  I have repeatedly asked TESCO for assurances on this - but to no avail.  If these assurances can be given, I will be the first to celebrate an important victory of putting people before profits.  In the meantime the Green Party will continue to put people first by boycotting TESCO.

Martin Whiteside
Stroud District Councillor and Green Party Parliamentary Candidate