CAMPAIGNERS against post office closures will hold a demonstration in Sheffield city centre next month.
Sheffield Communities Against Post Office Closures, which is being spearheaded by the Socialist Party and Green Party, has planned the demo for Saturday September 20 - two days before the end of the consultation period about closures.
A row has al
so broken out between SCAPOC and the ruling Lib Dems at Sheffield Council about the post office campaign.
SCAPOC claims the council is not doing enough to save the 16 threatened branches while the Lib Dems have accused them of trying to score political points.
SCAPOC spokesman Alistair Tice said: "The Lib Dems should be injecting more urgency into the council campaign against the 16 threatened post offices.
"We are calling on the council to immediately set up a dedicated action team to work with sub-postmasters and mistresses and local community campaigns in preparing the cases to oppose Post Office Ltd's closures. Sub-postmasters were in a state of shock following the announcements.
"They now have just four weeks left to put together their case against closure and expect council resources to do so. Amazingly, many still await any meaningful contact from the council about the help they will be given.
"SCAPOC expects the council to support, promote and publicise the demonstration."
But council leader Coun Paul Scriven said the council was committed to working with every community across the city to save their local post office: "The council is running the biggest ever campaign to save the 16 post offices.
"What we do know from other places is that we stand a better chance when people get behind one official campaign.
"All people are interested in is saving their post office - so I wish the Socialist and Green parties would get behind the official campaign instead of trying to score political points."
Visit www.sheffield.gov.uk to sign the council's petition opposing closure.
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