In rural and remote areas, post offices are often the lifeblood, and the last remaining outpost, of community life. That is certainly true in Eddisbury, where they are vital. However, we are now faced with a brutal, unnecessary and appalling process whereby the post offices in four wards in my Constituency are being decimated by a Government-inspired death by a thousand cuts.

I wish to present four petitions regarding four post offices that are threatened with closure, as is the case for Meadowbank Post Office, which is on the outskirts of Winsford, the main conurbation in my constituency, and three post offices in much more rural villages or hamlets: Cholmondeley, Tilston and Threapwood.

All the petitions declare that the enormous community value as well as the services available at the respective post offices are vital and must be maintained.

The petitioners of Cholmondeley, Tilston, Threapwood and Meadowbank, and their respective neighbouring districts—they are all relatively cut off from other areas where people may access services—request that the

House of Commons urges the Government and Post Office Ltd. to retain the post office in each particular area and the full services that our post offices provide to local people and the most vulnerable groups in our communities; and further requests that the Government and Post Office Ltd. withdraw their plans and undertake an honest review to examine how, rather than destroying our Post Offices, we can secure their long term future.

Following is the full text of the petitions:

[ The Petition of residents of Cholmondeley and its neighbouring districts,

Declares that the community value as well as the services available at Cholmondeley Post Office are vital and must be maintained.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government and Post Office Ltd. to retain Cholmondeley Post Office and the full services that our post offices provide to local people and the most vulnerable groups in our communities; and further requests that the Government and Post Office Ltd. withdraw their plans and undertake an honest review to examine how, rather than destroying our Post Offices, we can secure their l ong term future.

And the Petitioners remain, etc. ]

[P000091]

[The Petition of residents of Meadowbank and its neighbouring districts,

Declares that the community value as well as the services available at Meadowbank Post Office are vital and must be maintained.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government and Post Office Ltd. to retain Meadowbank Post Office and the full services that our post offices provide to local people and the most vulnerable groups in our communities; and further requests that the Government and Post Office Ltd. withdraw their plans and undertake an honest review to examine how, rather than destroying our Post Offices, we can secure their l ong term future.

And the Petitioners remain, etc. ]

[P000092]

[The Petition of residents of Tilston and its neighbouring districts ,

Declares that the community value as well as the services available at Tilston Post Office are vital and must be maintained.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government and Post Office Ltd. to retain Tilston Post Office and the full services that our post offices provide to local people and the most vulnerable groups in our communities; and further requests that the Government and Post Office Ltd. withdraw their plans and undertake an honest review to examine how, rather than destroying our Post Offices, we can secure their l ong term future.

And the Petitioners remain, etc. ]

[P000093]

[The Petition of residents of Threapwood and its neighbouring districts,

Declares that that the community value as well as the services available at Threapwood Post Office are vital and must be maintained.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government and Post Office Ltd. to retain Threapwood Post Office and the full services that our post offices provide to local people and the most vulnerable groups in our communities; and further requests that the Government and Post Office Ltd. withdraw their plans and undertake an honest review to examine how, rather than destroying our Post Offices, we can secure their l ong term future.

And the Petitioners remain, etc. ]

[P000094]