Go give it to 'em Mrs Gill!

Today I handed over the Birmingham Mail's near-7,000 petition calling for the Government to THINK AGAIN on Post Office closures to our delegation heading to Parliament.

That's 7,000 collected in just one month.

The minibus taking our leading campaigners leaves Birmingham this Monday and will deliver the boxes assembled both to Post Office chiefs involved in the 'consultation' and to Gordon Brown at Number 10.

Sadly, I won't be with them. The trip coincides with my family Summer holiday. So instead I today met and talked to lead-campaigner Mrs Gill, of Bartley Green Post Office, at my desk and commissioned pictures of her sorting the petitions with Mail reporter Kat Keogh.

Mrs Gill has a thriving business. More than 14 years serving local folk. Her argument is that those HUNDREDS of customers who use Post Office services each day also buy groceries, talk to neighbours and feel a part of their community.

No-one at any stage asked Mrs Gill about her customer numbers or how closure might affect the would-be tight-knit community she tries to serve.

Without the Post Office, she fears her customers will disperse. And with them goes not only her custom, but also the caring and friendly individuals who help her part of an outer city community tick.

Well done Mrs Gill for giving up her time to attend our offices today for the picture (to be published in Monday's Mail... cut out coupons literally spilling out of our hands).

Well done again Mrs Gill for giving up Monday to lead our campaign bus to London.

Shame on the Post office for this sham of a consultation.

Mr Brown: listen carefully to our plea... THINK AGAIN ON POST OFFICE CLOSURES THAT WILL FRACTURE OUR COMMUNITIES.