Parliament will today (October 15) debate a £210 million funding proposal to restructure the network of urban post offices through the closure, relocation and merger of sub post offices. This programme is known as urban network reinvention and it is widely expected that 3,000 post offices will close over the course of the three year programme.
When post offices are closed, customers must still be able to easily access post offices that provide an appropriate range of products and services, says Postwatch.
Postwatch will examine every proposed closure to assess whether customers will still have adequate access to services at nearby post offices and to ensure that customers’ interests are fully represented before any final decisions are made. This will form part of a thorough consultation process that has been established with Post Office Ltd.
Commenting on the proposed programme, Peter Carr Chairman of Postwatch said; “The urban post office network has suffered from years of decline and sub postmasters are leaving. We recognise that action must be taken to ensure that the network survives into the future and provides a full service in each community. This should include bigger branches with more flexible opening hours.
“We accept that in some urban areas, there are too many post offices competing for the same customers. We will not object to the closure of an individual post office as long as it is clear that customers still have alternative access to postal products and services. The consultation process we have negotiated will enable Postwatch to ensure that decisions are made in the customers’ best interests.”
Post Office Ltd last week confirmed the re-opening of a post office in Child’s Hill, London after representations from Postwatch. Having investigated the closure, Postwatch felt that customers would not have easy access to adequate services and would be seriously disadvantaged. The Post Office will now consult about this proposed closure under the new procedures. Peter Carr comments, “It is absolutely vital that Post Office Ltd. take representations on behalf of customers seriously. Their sensible approach to the Child’s Hill case shows that they are prepared to listen and act accordingly. It is important that this attitude of effective consultation is maintained throughout the forthcoming closure programme which could last for three years.”
Rural post offices
The Government has required the Post Office to prevent all unavoidable closures and sought advice from the Regulator (the Postal Services Commission) on the best way to provide financial assistance to rural post offices.
Postwatch is concerned that nearly a year after receiving this advice, which included direct revenue support to rural Sub postmasters, we are still awaiting details. In advance of this debate it has been reported that the Government will make available £150m a year over the next three years.
Peter Carr commented, “If the Government is to implement this support from April 2003, the DTI must bring forward its detailed plans immediately. A £450m headline provides a good sound bite – we want to know how it will be spent and what happens after three years? Sub postmasters and their customers need long-term certainty about the future of their post office which is at the heart of so many rural communities”.
Rural post offices will not be closed under Post Office Ltd’s reinvention programme.
Urban-deprived post offices
Postwatch does not expect Post Office Ltd to propose any closures in urban deprived areas where a community is reliant on a particular post office. Postwatch would expect to strongly oppose any such proposed closures unless there was a compelling case of very clear overprovision in that immediate area.
Postwatch is also concerned that over two years after the Government announced a £15 million fund for post offices in urban deprived areas, none of this money has been allocated.
“This available funding must begin to benefit Sub postmasters and customers in urban deprived areas” said Peter Carr, “why has none of it yet been allocated?”
Notes to Editors:
1. The proposed ‘urban reinvention’ programme includes funding of up to £180 million for payment to outgoing sub-postmasters whose offices will close and up to £30 million for investment grants to improve remaining offices.
2. Post watch’s representations to Post Office Ltd. about Child’s Hill post office can be seen under Current Issues, Post Office Closures at www.postwatch.co.uk.
3. Urban post offices are those in settlements with more than 10,000 inhabitants.
