NORTH Swindon MP Michael Wills has attacked Swindon Council over post office closures.

He has said there was no consultation between the public and councillors over the forthcoming closure of the Cheney Manor Road Post Office.

"Instead of trying to help the people of Swindon the council is just trying to make a party political point," he said. "It didn't care enough to respond to the consultation.

"And then when it was asked whether it had responded council leader Rod Bluh said in public the council hadn't been consulted.

"They were consulted on two or three occasions but didn't bother to respond.

"I have leafleted the Cheney Manor area around the post office to see how many people feel they cannot travel as far as the next post office in Rodbourne Road.

"Some councils have been proactive trying to protect their residents. In Essex the Conservative county council has been talking about taking over the post offices itself.

"Swindon Council is trying to make this a party political issue, but at the same time is avoiding dealing with it."

But the council has hit back at the criticisms. Council leader Rod Bluh said: "The Post Office is wholly Government owned.

"If the Government did not want branches to close, it had the power and the duty to find a solution.

"To try and blame the closure on any response, or lack of response, by the council to a consultation is an attempt to distract people from those who have made the real decision.

"It seems obvious where the blame rests, and it is not with the council.

"The council did participate in the consultation through the actions of ward councillors, many of whom have run campaigns when their ward has been threatened with a loss of amenity.

"In not one case in Swindon did these campaigns manage to prevent a closure.

"Even if the council had made a formal response to the consultation, through myself or the chief executive, there is no evidence that a single post office would have been saved.

"The council has been proactive in seeking alternative solutions.

"Councillor Justin Tomlinson has written to the managing director of the Post Office asking if there could be a partnership with the borough's libraries.

"I am setting up a telephone conference with Lord Hanningfield, the leader of Essex County Council, to see if their model of council support is appropriate."

Facilities in Cheney Manor Road and Westcott Place will definitely close.