CROWN POST OFFICE CLOSURE, MORNINGSIDE ROAD, EDINBURGH

That this House is extremely concerned about the announcement made by Post Office Ltd to close and franchise the Morningside Road Crown Post Office in Edinburgh; notes that this is a result of a series of significant cost-cutting measures undertaken by Post Office Ltd following its separation from Royal Mail, a reduction in government funding of 60 per cent and a transformation programme to cut costs; further notes that where franchising has occurred in other areas services and staffing levels have been reduced, and footfall in the shopping area has dropped; and calls on the Government and Post Office Ltd to listen to local residents and small businesses, abandon this franchising proposal, invest in the current Morningside Road Crown Post Office so that it remains at the heart of the community and fulfil the promise made in 2010 to make local Post Offices the front office of Government to save our cherished Post Offices.