By Lesley Walsh
NORTH Down MP Alex Easton said he will continue to ensure services remain in the constituency following the threat to Bangor Post Office.
Mr Easton said that following a parliamentary question on the possible closure of Bangor’s Main Street branch he would continue to campaign for essential services for those without access to digital platforms.
The Independent MP gave the assurances in the wake of the shock news that the local Post Office could be in line for the chop, among a total of four in Northern Ireland, including Newtownards’ branch on Frances Street.
“Post Offices and access to banking services remain lifelines for many, especially older people and those without easy access to digital platforms,” he said.
“I will continue to press the government to ensure these commitments are translated into tangible actions that protect and enhance access to these critical services in Bangor and across North Down,” he said.
Mr Easton’s parliamentary question queried the steps ‘being taken to prevent Post Office closures in the United Kingdom, including in Bangor, and to ensure continued access to postal and banking services in affected areas’.
Welcoming the Department for Business and Trade’s response, he said: “The confirmation of the Government’s annual £50m Network Subsidy to support the operation and geographical coverage of 11,500 branches across the UK is a positive development.
“This funding demonstrates a clear commitment to maintaining essential services, including banking and cash services, which are vital for both residents and businesses.”
Mr Easton said he was ‘further encouraged’ by the Government’s plan to work with banks to establish at least 350 banking hubs across the UK.
“This initiative will help address growing concerns over the lack of face-to-face banking services, particularly in rural areas and smaller urban communities like parts of North Down,” he said.
The MP’s moves follow the announcement on November 12 that up to 115 Post Office branches and hundreds of head office jobs were at risk.
In a radical shake-up of the business, the Post Office revealed it was assessing options for its wholly-owned branches, known as Crown Post Offices – including Bangor Main Street, Frances Street in Newtownards and two others in Northern Ireland, in Belfast and Londonderry – which currently employ about 1,000 workers and are loss-making.
The options include alternative franchise arrangements where third party retail operators could take on the branches.
The Communication Workers Union branded the proposals as ‘immoral’ in the wake of the ongoing inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal.
