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Labour would save nearly 80 Post Offices in Kent by creating Post Banks

The future of nearly 80 Post Offices across Kent could be secured under a new policy announced by the Labour Party.

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has revealed a list of 3,600 post offices which would become “Post Banks” under a Labour government – giving it the largest branch network of any UK bank.

Among them are 79 in Kent.

The Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell MP
The Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell MP

The party said the publicly-owned bank would ensure that every community had easy access to face-to-face, trusted and affordable banking.

It would stem the tide of post office closures, unite important banking, business and community services under one roof and create skilled jobs, Labour said.

Research from the consumer magazine Which? last year showed that the UK lost nearly two-thirds of its bank and building society branches over the past 30 years, falling from more than 20,000 in 1988 to just 7,600 in 2018.

Mr McDonnell said: “We all love our local post offices, and this plan will protect them by giving them a vital extra role – providing our communities with face-to-face banking.

“This is a plan for defending our high streets. It keeps post offices safe for years to come and brings footfall back into our town centres.

"Plus it provides finance to local small businesses – especially cooperatives, companies that don't hurt the environment, and those that do research and development.

“We’re going to take finance out of the hands of the big banks and the speculators – and into the hands of our regions and communities. That’s how we’ll rebuild Britain for the many, not the few.”

Labour intends to ensure every community has a Post Office to visit
Labour intends to ensure every community has a Post Office to visit

The Labour Party plans to give £2.5bn of initial funding for the Post Bank, to take over services currently offered through Post Office Money and will end the existing partnership with Bank of Ireland UK.

As well as offering banking services to individuals, it would provide services to small businesses, Labour said.

The 3,600 post offices selected are all part of the Crown postal office network or larger post offices.

Over the past five years the Post Office has announced the closure of 150 Crown Post Offices, 40% of its 2013 Crown Post Office network.

In 2010 the Government stated the Post Office’s ‘network subsidy’ would “reduce substantially over time.” It is currently projected to fall from £200m in 2013 to £50m in 2020.

In addition private banks have been busy closing their branches, leaving many communities with no form of banking at all.

It is estimated that a fifth of the population already live more two miles away from their nearest bank.

Here is the full list of Post Offices that would be protected in Kent:

Ashford

Ashford TN23 1QN

Singleton TN23 5GR

Tenterden TN30 6HP

Canterbury

Canterbury CT1 2LB

Hales Place CT2 7AB

Herne Bay CT6 5DU

St Georges CT1 1PE

Sturry CT2 0BD

Swalecliffe CT5 2LX

Tankerton CT5 2AW

Whitstable CT5 1NQ

Dartford

Dartford DA1 1AB

Swanscombe DA10 0AG

Dover

Aylesham CT3 3DZ

Buckland CT17 0SR

Deal CT14 6ET

Dover CT16 1BW

Mill Hill CT14 9EX

Sandwich CT13 9DA

Whitfield CT16 3HB

Folkestone and Hythe

Cheriton CT19 4ET

Dover Road CT20 1LA

Folkestone CT20 1TU

Hythe CT21 5AD

New Romney TN28 8BZ

Gravesham

Gravesend DA11 0TA

Mid Higham ME3 7DA

Riverview Park DA12 4NG

Rosherville DA11 9JR

Singlewell Road DA11 7QA

Valley Drive DA12 5RT

Maidstone

Ashford Road ME14 4LX

Barming ME16 9EU

Coxheath ME17 4DF

Headcorn TN27 9NE

High Street ME14 1JF

Lenham ME17 2PH

Maidstone ME14 1RP

Mangravet ME15 9BQ

Park Wood ME15 9FU

Medway

Chatham ME4 4JG

Deanswood ME8 9PW

Gillingham ME7 1AU

Lordswood ME5 8NL

Post Barn ME4 6HB

Rainham ME8 8AN

Rochester ME1 1JT

Strood ME2 4SL

Twydall ME8 6JY

Walderslade ME5 9LL

Watling Street ME7 2YX

Wigmore ME8 0PN

Swale

Faversham ME13 8AA

Minster On Sea ME12 3QG

Murston ME10 3RE

Sheerness ME12 1AA

Sittingbourne ME10 4AA


Sevenoaks

Edenbridge TN8 5AB

Otford TN14 5PB

Sevenoaks TN13 1AA

Swanley BR8 7AE

Thanet

Birchington CT7 9RA

Broadstairs CT10 2AD

Cliftonville CT9 2QN

Haine Cross Road CT10 2QJ

Holly Lane CT9 3PQ

Margate CT9 1JW

Ramsgate CT11 9AA

St Lawrence CT11 0QW

Westgate On Sea CT8 8RN

Tonbridge and Malling

Larkfield ME20 6QJ

Snodland ME6 5DQ

Tonbridge TN9 1SQ

West Mailing ME19 6JZ

York Parade TN10 3NP

Tunbridge Wells

Cranbrook TN17 3DN

Five Ways TN1 2AD

Paddock Wood TN12 6EN

Rusthall TN4 8RW

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