HearFromYourMP

Messages for this constituency

Message from Mark Williams

Posted by Mark Williams, MP for Ceredigion, at 17:23, Wed 25 October 2006:

Thank you to everyone in Ceredigion who has signed up to this service.

I thought I would begin by posting a message on Post Offices.

Post Offices play a vital role in Ceredigion, particularly in our smaller, more isolated communities, and I have been working hard at Parliament to get this message across to Ministers, and to Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd.

Last week I met Postmasters from across Wales in Parliament. They stressed the importance of the Post Office Card Account to me, and the need to halt the withdrawal of services from Post Offices, which in recent months has seen the Post Office lose its TV Licence contract, and the DVLA urging customers to renew Car Tax online or by phone, rather than at their local Post Office.

Last week I also pressed Post Offices Minister Jim Fitzpatrick on the level of support the Government give to Post Offices, and I have also asked him what he is doing to ensure HSBC and NatWest customers can get cash free of charge over the Post Office counter.

Welsh Liberal Democrats in the Assembly are pushing to re-open a fund which helped keep 106 village post offices open between 2002 and 2004.

We have so many good post offices in Ceredigion - this week Ian Davies' Post Office in Pontrhydfendigaid was named the Best Post Office in Rural Wales. Those who rely on them most are our older people, and those on benefits, who often do not have easy access to transport. In many areas, they are the heart of the town or village. I pledge to continue fighting for Wales' rural Post Offices in the weeks and months to come.

If you want to raise any issue or concern with me, I hold two advice surgeries across the county each week. Please ring (01970) 615880 to book an appointment.