Last April, Mr Dunne launched a petition to save our Post Offices which he presented to Parliament in July 2006. Shortly afterwards the Federation of Sub-Postmasters launched a petition which attracted 4 million signatures across the country.
Mr Dunne said today: "Now is not the time for another petition, but for practical steps to help Post Offices build their revenue base."
Mr Dunne is calling on the Government to require the successful bidder for the next UK National Lottery license from 2009 to offer sub-Post Offices the opportunity to install a National Lottery terminal. This would encourage customer traffic to our Post Offices.
He has also developed an Action Plan which aims to ensure survival of our Post Offices. The plan includes:
- encouraging local councils to consider opening 'council counters' in local branches;
- giving sub-Post Offices greater freedom to offer a wider range of commercial products;
- pushing for more Post Offices to be 'one-stop-shops' for central Government services;
- permitting remote rural Post Offices to join the Pay Point network to provide additional bill paying services to customers and
- requiring the next holder of the National Lottery license to offer sub-Post Offices the opportunity to install a National Lottery terminal.
Mr Dunne has held discussions with Pay Point which is willing in principle to enter a contract with Royal Mail if it is prepared to open access to Pay Point in rural Post Offices.
Mr Dunne added: "The fight to save our Post Offices in the Ludlow constituency now starts in earnest. The best way for you to help is to visit your local Post Office and, if you can, spend an extra £1 a week there."
