Questions over cash set aside to 'save' city post offices

Jeni Harvey

LABOUR councillors in Sheffield are demanding to know how half a million pounds that was set aside to “save” post offices in the city is being spent by their political opponents.

In October 2008 Post Office Ltd announced that it would be closing 65 branches across Yorkshire, including 15 in Sheffield.

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In the city, branches at Crookes Valley Road, Hatfield House Lane, High Wincobank, Oakbrook Road, Park Grange, Parkhead, Shalesmoor, Southey, The Moor, Deepcar, Derbyshire Lane, Grimesthorpe, Loxley, Silverhill and Western Road were closed.

In August 2009 Liberal Democrats on Sheffield Council announced that they would be reopening branches in Norfolk Park and Nether Green, and funding them until March 2011. However, neither post office has reopened, and questions are now being asked by councillors in the areas affected as to why 500,000 earmarked for the scheme is still sitting in the bank.

Councillors in Darnall are asking for the money to be used to reopen the Main Street branch there, which closed in August last year despite a huge campaign staged by residents which aimed to save it.

Darnall Labour councillor Mazher Iqbal said: “This half a million pound fund was solely for saving post offices, yet the Liberal Democrats haven’t re-opened any.

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“This money should be put to good use to help post offices that can use it. For example, since this money has been sitting in the bank, the Lib Dems have overseen the closure of Lower Manor and Darnall post offices.

“If Darnall could receive some of the council’s half a million pound pot, then the branch could be up and running in no time and it’s important for the local community that it’s reopened sooner rather than later.”

However, Coun David Baker, deputy leader of Sheffield Council, said the problem was not to do with money but with a lack of people interested in running the business. He said: “Coun Iqbal knows that the issue at Darnall is not about a lack of funding, it’s finding someone to come forward with a business plan to run the post office.

“Even if it was about providing investment we couldn’t simply hand over money to Darnall post office as the rules put down by Coun Iqbal’s own government don’t allow it.”