Ms Phil Cooley:

As an information officer with Age Action, I receive many calls from older people in rural areas who get very upset when they hear that their local post office is closing down. They may be housebound or semi-housebound and unable to get to a post office ten or 15 miles up the road. I concur with Mr. Martin when he says the older person is pushed aside. There is a huge cohort of older people. I know what Mr. Moran said about the rural transport service which needs to be put in place. I am on the front line with three colleagues who receive calls once something about a post office comes up and they are very upsetting to listen to. We know that getting people to participate in a campaign does not always work out. People power might work in some areas and people might be listened to.