Postwatch today welcomes the publication of the National Federation of, Sub postmasters’ (NFSP) Manifesto 2004-2005. The document sets out a series of measures the NFSP considers will help secure the post office network’s future. Commenting on the Manifesto, Peter Carr, Chairman of Postwatch, said: “There is much to applaud in the Federation’s Manifesto. It is a call for all parties to work creatively to help safeguard the future of the post office network. As the NFSP point out, innovation in products and services, and strong leadership from government, are both essential to achieving this goal.
“Postwatch agrees with a number of the NFSP’s specific suggestions, for example we support the call for government to take a leading role in improving access to bank accounts at post offices. “We also welcome the suggestion of an assessment of the social role of urban post offices. Postwatch has argued on numerous occasions – including in submissions to the Trade and Industry Committee – that urban deprived offices also have an important social role to play in their communities. We believe such an assessment would help illustrate this”