Last ditch effort to save Post Offices
By Jayne Warren - 03/10/2007
The Post Office has announced the first 180 branches chosen for closure under plans to shut 2,500 by the end of 2008. Some 58 branches have been earmarked in Kent, 77 in the East Midlands and 45 in the East Yorkshire area.
Organisations campaigning to stop the cull - including The Countryside Alliance (CA) and the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) - have condemned the closures and are urging people to "save their Post Office" by making their views known under the official six week consultation period.
A spokesperson from the CA said: "We believe that the Government has ignored the concerns of thousands of people following a sham consultation on the Future of the Post Office Network in May 2007. Many voters are simply worried about the local impact of losing their Post Office. We hope you agree that the battle is not over yet."
Dot Gibson, NPC vice president said: "These closures will have a devastating impact on the lives of older people who rely on their post offices not only to carry out their financial affairs and find out about other services, but also as a lifeline to the wider community. Ministers may claim that the post office is losing money, but at least £260m was taken away from the network when the government scrapped the pension book and started paying pensions directly into bank accounts.
"Today's announcement of a six week consultation period has little to do with getting people's views - and more to do with with getting things done without giving anyone the chance to object. The closure programme marks the break-up of our community life - and heralds the drive towards more impersonal and remote services which do not best serve the older generation who are without their own transport or access to computers."
But the Post Office are adamant that "more than 99% of the population will either see no change to their nearest branch, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch."
And in a rather confusing move which appears to contradict the financial justification for closure, Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish around 500 outreach services across the UK, which would "use innovative ways to continue to provide Post Office services, particularly in smaller communities where the existing branch is proposed for closure. The proposals published today envisage outreach services in 11 communities in the East Midlands and 24 in East Yorkshire with Bassetlaw and North Lincolnshire."
Possible types of the proposed outreach service could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within third party premises for restricted hours each week, or a partner service within the premises of a local partner - such as a pub landlord.
Post Office Ltd Managing Director, Alan Cook, said: " We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the changes we are proposing to meet Government requirements, and able to give views on how accessible services will be in the future. Post Office Ltd’s aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the very strict minimum access criteria set by the Government.”
But how safe will "mobile" services be, especially when handling important financial information for some of the most vulnerable in our community? The CA is asking anyone concerned to address these issues immediately: "The Post Office Ltd is seeking views on their proposed future service provision in these areas, including, in particular, views on access to Post Office services, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure, and the appropriate form of outreach service to be provided."
What you should do to make your voice heard:
• Take part in the local consultation process – tell Post Office Ltd what your local Post Office means to you and the role it plays in your community.
• Write to Pat McFadden MP, the Minister responsible for Post Offices, outlining your concerns.
• Continue to use and support your local Post Office and Sub Post Master
• Please copy in your local MP and the Countryside Alliance.
Write to: Pat McFadden MP, Minister of State for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET. Or: The National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM (no stamp is required). Alternatively email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call 08457 22 33 44.
Copies of Area Plan Proposals are available by post from National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM (no stamp is required) and can be found at the first link below from the date on which they are published.
The Countryside Alliance is at the second link below.