By Dave Lord

RURAL AREAS of Tayside and Fife and Kinross must be spared any “potentially devastating” post office closures, an MSP has insisted.

Mid Scotland and Fife parliamentarian Liz Smith branded the consultation process which followed the announcement of likely closures a “total farce.”

She called for parliament to suspend all proposed closures, claiming that they would be disastrous for communities throughout the area.

“The Post Office Ltd consultation process which has taken place in the West of Scotland has been a total farce, with local communities being set against one another,” Ms Smith said.

“The UK Labour government is presiding over the most flawed and divisive exercise any government could contemplate on local communities.

“The impact the closures will have will be a total disaster for rural communities across Mid Scotland and Fife.

“I understand the widespread public dismay about the plans to close 2500 post offices, particularly as the ones to be closed seem to be chosen for their geography rather than their viability.”

Ms Smith warned the government it should expect “massive opposition” from her constituents.

“Across Mid Scotland and Fife I have been campaigning to highlight the failings of the closure plans and the consultation process,” she said.

“I believe that, in the light of all the complaints and concerns, parliament should now call a halt to the process.

“From what we have seen to date in other parts of Scotland, even where a business case can be put together to save a post office branch it will only result in another facility being put on the list.

“The government has simply demanded that 2500 post offices be closed.

“The proposed consultation period of six weeks is ludicrously short. How on earth can a community realistically put together a business plan in such a short period of time?”

Ms Smith insisted the current government is to blame for the predicament faced by post offices throughout the country.

“Decisions taken by this government have contributed to losses being made by the post office network,” the MSP said.

“Under Labour, government departments have taken away services from post offices such as road tax payments and TV licences.

“The closure programme has been a horribly botched exercise and there will be massive public support for the project to be suspended while every aspect of it is reassessed.”