Dr Dan Poulter, Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has thrown his weight behind a local Post Office’s campaign to see more Government services returned to the wider Post Office network, including the full range of DVLA (Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Agency) services.
After being contacted by Otley Village Store and Post Office Subpostmaster, Penny Sunaway, and learning of the strength of feeling among local residents, Dr Poulter took action by writing to the Secretary of State for Transport to find out what steps the Government is taking to support Post Office Ltd in its bid to secure a new contract to continue providing DVLA services, such as offering tax discs and processing driving licence applications.
Following the Department of Transport’s recent decision to put DVLA work out to a competitive tender process, Post Office Ltd is one of several groups looking to win the new £450 million contract. Winning this new contract would enable local post offices such as Otley Village Store to provide additional services such as changing vehicle ownership details and changing car number plates.