Saqib met with representatives of the Post Office to discuss the ongoing lack of Post Office services in Meriden village. During the meeting, Saqib voiced the concern of residents at the loss of Post Office services and explained the negative impact it is having on the community. He in particular raised the issue of access to cash for the elderly population and how important the Post Office is in that regard. Saqib has consistently lobbied for enhanced protection on free access to cash, speaking about it in Parliament in 2021. The previous conservative government protected this by placing an expectation on banks that people and businesses be able to withdraw cash without fees within 3 miles of where they live or work.
The temporary closure of the Meriden Post Office was announced in March 2024 following the retirement of the Post Office’s sub-postmaster and the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use. Since this time Meriden village has been without Post Office services, with the nearest branch located two miles away. Several Meriden village residents contacted Saqib about this issue and in response he wrote to the Post Office requesting the service be reinstated as soon as possible and, in the meantime, a mobile unit be provided for residents to use. He also started a petition alongside three local councillors, Heather Delaney, Tony Dicicco, and Andrew Burrow calling on the Post Office to restore its services to the local area. To contact Saqib about this campaign you can email him at [email protected].
Commenting on the meeting, Saqib said:
“I know how important having a Post Office is to Meriden village. My constituents have made it clear that this will negatively impact their community and make accessing essential services very difficult. I will continue to work with residents, local councillors, and the Post Office to find the best outcome possible for the Meriden community.”
