WEST Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox took to the roads in a disability buggy on Tuesday, to highlight how 'brutal' proposals to close rural post offices could affect vulnerable residents in the constituency. The move came as West Devon residents were urged to fight to save eleven post offices in the borough from being closed. Post Office workers, residents, borough and county councillors and the MP say the closures would have a devastating effect on rural areas. Mr Cox rode the disability buggy with a resident from Shebbear to travel part of the way to the nearest post office at Black Torrington — a distance of more than three miles. He said: 'The elderly and disabled will be hurt most by these senseless closures, which are as brutal and as bad for the communities that I represent as any measure that the Government could have permitted.' Mr Cox also visited Northlew Post Office as the Times went to press, to listen to protesters. Northlew villager Martin Perry said under the proposals, the post office in Northlew was to be replaced by a mobile unit, but he added that even the 'outreach' service was in some doubt. He said: 'What they are proposing to do is unclear, but they do plan to withdraw the post office. 'The village is in uproar, they are livid, furious, and irritated because the nearest facility at Highhampton is 3.9 miles away. It would be absolutely impossible for people to do that journey without cars. 'There is no bus service from here to Highhampton — there is a bus service two times a week to Okehampton which takes an hour each way. We aren't happy!' If the shake-up of post offices goes ahead, Sampford Courtenay's branch will be closed. Post offices in Meeth, Northlew, Lewdown, Bridestowe, Ashwater and Shebbear also face closure, but proposals have been put forward to provide a reduced 'outreach' service in these villages. A six-week public consultation period began last week following the announcement of the closures. Naomi Nardi, who co-runs the Riverside Stores and Bridestowe Post Office with her husband, Richard, said the proposals will see the mobile service in Bridestowe for a couple of hours, five days a week. 'If this were to happen the impact on the shop would be devastating,' she said. 'We are encouraging every one of our customers to take part in the consultation and express their individual needs for the post office and the shop that goes with it. 'If there is no post office the shop will not be able to survive — the two go hand in hand. 'We are in a remote and rural area, if we go, more people will have to travel further to access basic services.' County councillor James McInnes said he was shocked and angered by the news. He said: 'It is most important that we fight these proposals. 'It is no use thinking everyone else will do something. You have to act and write to these people and tell them how important the Post Office is to you and the vulnerable people in our community. 'With a poor bus service, patchy Broadband access, and many residents not signed up to the high-tech world, post offices are essential for financial inclusion in our rural communities.' A special task group was set up by borough councillors last year to respond to the proposals. Cllr Alison Clish-Green, chair of the task group, has also called on communities affected by the proposals to make their voices heard. She said: 'We feel that the timescale for consulting with communities, which is just six weeks, is wholly inadequate. 'However, it's even more important that these communities act quickly and make their views known.' The Government undertook a 12-week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK wide network of post office branches by up to 2,500 from its current level of more than 14,000. It says it has been necessary to put in place a sustainable network for the long term after mounting financial losses and falling customer numbers. Comments on the proposed changes should be sent to Tim Nickolls, network development manager, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM, or email consultation@ postoffice.co.uk Mr Cox has also set up a dedicated website on which residents can make their views known — http://www.geoffreycox.co.uk/">www.geoffreycox.co.uk/ post offices
