10:28am Monday 28th April 2008
By Michael Baws
POSTCARD Power is being used in a new phase of the battle to save East Hamlet and other post offices in south Shropshire from closure.
Liberal Democrat campaigners are distributing the cards, which feature threatened PO branches. These are addressed to Post Office minister Pat McFadden MP and give the senders a chance to object to the government's closure actions.
District councillor Tracey Huffer, whose ward includes East Hamlet in the north of Ludlow, explained: "This is another way of putting pressure on the government to change its mind. We are asking residents to buy a stamp from the threatened post office and pop the card in the post.
As well as objecting to the closure there is space for the sender to add their own comments. The minister also has to reply to all those filled in."
Fellow campaigner and district councillor Heather Kidd added: "I would urge everyone who has had a card to send them in. The more we can present the minister with, the greater will be the impact".
More than 40 people attended a recent protest meeting in Marton, close to the Welsh border, and voted unanimously to fight the closure of their local branch.
A small working group was set up to put a business case in place and to set up a "Save our Post Office" website. The Marton campaign will be formally launched at another public meeting in May.
Coun Kidd said 100 individual postcards were more effective than a petition with 100 signatures.
She said: "They make more of an impact and forces the minister to respond individually."
E-mail Heather.kidd@virgin.net for a protest card or call in Marton Post Office.
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