Lib Dems condemn Post Office closures in Birmingham

10.56.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Aug 2008

Liberal Democrats have condemned the announcement by Post Office Ltd that 25 Post Office branches will definitely be closing in Birmingham. Councillor Ayoub Khan (Aston Ward) said: "This is a huge blow to the city and a huge blow to both employees who are working in the branches and to those people who have relied upon the valuable services that the 25 closing Post Offices provide."

"It is very disappointed that just one solitary Post Office (The Green, Kings Norton) has been saved from the proposed list of closures. As it has been just over 3 weeks since the consultation ended, I would question how thoroughly Post Office Ltd went through all the consultation responses."

"Post Offices are a vital part of our neighbourhoods and and have an invaluable role to play in our city both commercially and socially."

As well as the 25 closures in Birmingham, it was confirmed that another 25 Post Office branches will close across Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire under the government-backed plans to "rationalise" the Post Office network.

Lib Dem MP Lorely Burt (Solihull) said she was "gutted" by the news and slammed the consultation process as a "cynical exercise".

Lorely Burt said: "I've no doubt Post Office officials are just doing what they are told. However, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for thousands of local people who did their best to save their local post office, only to have their efforts dismissed."

"What is the point of asking people for their views if you've already determined the outcome?"

The 25 Birmingham Post Office closures are:

• Alcester Lane End, 271 Alcester Road, South Birmingham B14 6EB

• Aston Manor, 50 Rocky Lane, Aston Birmingham B6 5RQ

• Bakers Lane, 40 Bakers Lane, Sutton Coldfield B73 6XD

• Bartley Green, 6 Genners Lane, Birmingham B32 3JL

• Brighton Road, 577 Moseley Road Birmingham B12 9BS

• Church Vale, 60 Robert Road, Birmingham B20 3RU

• Coopers Road, 53 Coopers Road Birmingham B20 2JU

• Court Oak Road, 157 Court Oak Road Birmingham B17 9AD

• Druids Heath, 17 Pound Road Birmingham B14 5SB

• Greenholm Road, 210 Kingstanding Road, Birmingham B44 8JP

• Hagley Road, 4a Huntley Road Birmingham B16 8JS

• Hockley, 5 Hockley Hill Birmingham B18 5AA

• Maney, 20 Beeches Walk Sutton Coldfield B73 6HN

• Middlemore Road, 2 Middlemore Road Birmingham B31 3UP

• Perry Common, 121 Witton Lodge, Road, Erdington Birmingham B23 5JD

• Robin Hood, 1537 Stratford Road Birmingham B28 9JA

• Sandwell Road (Temporarily closed), 225 Sandwell Road Birmingham B21 8PD

• Selsey Road, 33-35 Selsey Road Birmingham B17 8JR

• Shaftmoor Lane, 1 Olton Boulevard, East Birmingham B27 7RR

• Short Heath, 75 Gravelly Lane, Birmingham B23 6LR

• Small Heath Park, 541Coventry Road, Small Heath Birmingham B10 0LL

• Sparkbrook, 174-176 Stratford, Road, Sparkhill Birmingham B11 1AG

• The Firs, 12 Ermington Crescent, Birmingham B36 8AP

• Victoria Road, 95 Upper Sutton Street, Birmingham B6 5BN

• Witton Road, 209 Witton Road Birmingham B6 6JR