Labour Government must intervene to save Sunderland City Centre post office

Sunderland city councillors are calling on the Government to intervene to save the future of Sunderland city centre’s post office, which is under threat of closure.

Opposition Liberal Democrat councillors in Sunderland are asking the Government’s Business Minister Justin Madders, who is responsible for the Post Office, to intervene and give a guarantee that Sunderland city centre will continue to have a post office.

It comes after the announcement that the branch on Fawcett Street is one of 100 Crown Post Offices that are under threat of closure as Post Office looks to transfer or close its directly-managed branches across the country.

Commenting, Deputy Leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats on Sunderland Council Heather Fagan said:

“The prospect of not having a city centre Post Office is extremely worrying, especially on the back of the disastrous and avoidable closure of M&S, and on top of other big name stores like Wilko and Debenhams shutting up shop in recent years.

“We need anchor institutions like the Post Office to bring people into the town, and so people can access services that they have to do in person at a post office.

“The Government really need to step in and give an assurance, now, that they will force Post Office Limited – which is after all a public corporation – to keep a branch in Sunderland city centre going forward. Anything less than this would be an insult and a dereliction of duty to the people of Sunderland.”