Save Our London Post Offices

Hina Bokhari AM moved and Gareth Roberts AM seconded the following motion:

"This Assembly Notes:

• The Post Office has published plans to close 32 directly owned branches across London.
• Post office branches are essential to our communities – helping pensioners access and manage their money, small businesses send out stock and visitors change currency. The closure of so many branches across the City would make life more difficult for thousands of people.
• Research by the National Audit Office has shown those most acutely affected by Post Office branch closures are the elderly, disabled and parents of young children.
• The Post Office is owned by the Government, through the Department for Business and Trade and UK Government Investments, however the Post Office Ltd Board has responsibility for the operations of the Post Office.

This Assembly call on the Mayor to:

• Support London’s local communities and high streets by writing to the Chair of the Post Office Ltd Board, Nigel Railton, asking that the decision is reconsidered.
• Publicly pledge his support for the 32 affected Post Office branches in London remaining open. 
• Pro-actively engage with the Department for Business and Trade and the Post Office to ensure the voice of Londoners is heard in this decision making process."

Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the motion was agreed unanimously.