Jo Platt MP leads campaign to save Post Office from threat of closure

As reported by the Journal, Leigh's Silk Street is one of the 115 branches that are at risk of closure due to the Post Office looking to reduce costs and offer a "new deal for postmasters".

However, the proposals to place so many jobs at risk has proved immensely controversial, with the Communication Workers Union calling the move "tone deaf" and "immoral" following the revelations of the Post Office Horizon scandal.

And following concerns about losing such a vital community hub in Leigh, Jo Platt has launched a petition to save the Post Office from the threat of closure.

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Leigh's Silk Street Post Office is one of 115 branches under threat of closure (Image: Google Maps) With the petition nearing 1,000 signatures, the Leigh and Atherton MP said she will also be writing to Nigel Railton at the Post Office and Gareth Thomas, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) to put forward the case for keeping the Post Office in Leigh.

Additionally, Ms Platt also met with a group of cross party MPs last week, to discuss the potential post office closures and how politicians can work together to keep the "vital" post offices open. 

In a statement on the online petition, Jo Platt MP said: "Post Offices provide essential services to our community. The announcement that Leigh Post Office on Silk Street is at risk of closure is extremely concerning for the people in Leigh, and for residents and local business alike.

"This post office plays a vital role in our community and its loss would be a real blow to our local economy and to the countless residents who rely upon its services.

"We call upon the Post Office to save Leigh Post Office."

You can add your name to the petition to save Leigh Post Office from the threat of closure here.