RENDEL DEMANDS ACTION TO CUT WAITING TIMES AT NEWBURY POST OFFICE

5.26.57pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 30th Mar 2005

David Rendel MP has written to the Chair of the Royal Mail to protest at lengthening queues and waiting times at Newbury Post Office in Cheap Street.

"This has only happened because several local Post Offices have been closed", he said.

"Local people were promised that they could all easily be accommodated in the Central Post Office. This has proved not to be the case.

"People are waiting for 20 minutes or more to be served. Many are spending their entire lunch hour waiting. This is completely unacceptable - particularly if elderly people are forced to wait outside in the cold.

"Having ignored our warnings about the closure programme, the least the Post Office can do now is open more counters for business at their Cheap Street branch."

ENDS