Postwatch, the consumer watchdog for postal services, welcomes the Government’s announcement that it will continue to provide financial support for rural post offices in the medium term. The two-year extension to 2008, at a cost of up to £150 million per annum, must be used to determine a long-term strategy for providing postal services in rural areas.
Peter Carr said: “If the vast majority of rural post offices are not commercially viable, then much innovative work is essential to sustain and develop these services in rural communities.”
Postwatch looks forward to working with Post Office Limited and other interested parties over the next 18 months to help determine the longer-term strategy.
Postwatch has already recommended a range of pilot and research studies that are needed.
Postwatch also wants to be involved in helping Post Office Limited and the government determine in a fair way what constitutes ‘a collapse in demand for services’ or ‘a viable future for a rural post office’ that could trigger permanent closure. Also the redefinition of “avoidable” closure will be important. Clarity must be reached on these issues before implementing any changes to Post Office Ltd’s duty to prevent rural post office closures.
Notes to Editors
1. Table compares numbers of rural and urban post offices over the past 3 years.
| Year |
Number of rural post offices |
Number of urban post offices |
| 2001/02 |
8,436 |
9068 |
| 2002/03 |
8,321 |
8912 |
| 2003/04 |
8,142 |
7753 |
