The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in the East Midlands has welcomed the news that 3,000 post offices could be saved.
Commenting on the news that the Post Office will retain its one billion pound contract to distribute benefits and pensions via the Post Office Card Account, Market Harborough based CLA director Helen Woolley said:
"At a time when the Governor of the Bank of England is predicting a recession in the country, this is great news for rural post offices and rural communities in Leicestershire.
"The CLA believes that the local post office is at the heart of the rural community and can attract more business by being the rural one-stop shop. It is gratifying to see the Government’s recognition of the importance of the post office network. We sincerely hope that this is a message that the post office network is safe and that the anxiety of sub-postmasters and postmistresses will be alleviated."
The CLA leader added: "What is still required, however, are government assurances that post offices will be able to take on more public sector work in the future which will guarantee their economic viability."
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