Post Office latest instalment in British governments social engineering agenda

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty says that Royal Mail’s plans to radically reduce the number of Post Offices is but the latest instalment of the British governments social engineering agenda in the six counties i.e. the British exchequer attempting to drastically slash the budget subvention here through a policy of services and infrastructure centralisation and through forced urbanization regardless of the social or real economic cost.

Following a debate in the Assembly yesterday about the Post Office issue in which there was universal opposition to the Royal Mail proposals, the local MP said, “The proposal to drastically reduce the number of Post Offices here cannot be viewed in isolation from the wider agenda of the British government to drastically cut the budget subvention to the six counties through a policy of services and infrastructure centralization and forced urbanization regardless of the social or real economic cost.

“Through the draconian Rural Planning Policy 14, and what amounts to an almost permanent moratorium on housing development in the countryside, the Direct Rule Administration hopes to force a large section of rural population into urban areas, and by closing rural post offices, rural schools and through the increased centralization of health and other essential services, this same Administration is hoping to cement this crass social engineering by removing the infrastructural fabric which has sustained rural communities for generations.

People in rural areas need the post office network. We need to see action that will regenerate our rural communities, not irresponsible and unaccountable actions that will decimate them.

“It is therefore crucial that the proposals to drastically reduce the number of Post Offices is met with the same resolute opposition that has met attempts to impose Rural Planning Policy 14.