I am delighted that the Evening Press is mounting a 'Counter Attack' against government plans to pay most benefits directly into the bank of recipients instead of paying out at the post offices.

If these plans go through it will mean the closure of most rural post offices because they will no longer be profitable. Many people, especially the elderly, still do not have a bank account and cheque book. Collecting their pension from a nearby town would be very difficult. The local village post office is also a meeting place and village culture has been damaged in the last 20 years with decreasing public transport, closure of village schools, shops and pubs. We must not lose our rural post offices.

I hope Evening Press readers will sign petitions and write to their MPs demanding that these plans to pay benefits directly into banks are scrapped.

Patsy Gill,

Springfield,

Howden, Goole.

...It is good to see the Evening Press taking a lead in the campaign against the Blair Government's proposal to bring in legislation to have pensioners' and other benefit paid direct in to a bank or building society.

This is a stupid and unjust move which will do immense harm to the rural community throughout Britain.

Hundreds of village shops, many with sub-post offices have already gone leaving villages desolate.

If the proposed Bill becomes law hundreds more village shops with sub-post offices will close down. unable to make a living.

There will also be a huge shortage of cash in our villages.

Our pensioners will suffer great hardship. Most use cash to shop with and many older ones have 'no time' for credit/cash cards etc.

The proposed Bill is about as callous and unjust as Mrs Thatcher's Poll Tax and look what happened to her.

So get off your high horse Mr Blair and don't be so arrogant or you may finish up like Mrs Thatcher and it would certainly serve you right.

W R Jackson,

New Road,

Escrick, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.