New research carried out on behalf of Postwatch, the watchdog for postal services, shows that rural post office closures are having a profound effect on local communities, impacting on people’s independence, affecting community spirit and particularly disadvantaging the elderly, disabled people and those without transport. Three quarters (75%) of respondents felt that their local post office was “extremely important” to them, over half (59%) thought it was “essential to their way of life” and 91% agreed that it played “an important role in their local community”. These figures increased among the elderly or those with disabilities affecting their mobility.
Social and community role
Rural post offices were felt to provide an important social and community function, which goes beyond the provision of postal services. Half the respondents used their post office for reading community notices (54%) and as a meeting place (52%) and a third for obtaining Government information or getting informal advice. Overall, when a rural post office closed, community spirit was affected and the focal point of the village was felt to have gone. .
Loss of independence for rural residents
The research reveals that post offices in rural communities provide local people with independence and when it closes, many become reliant on others in the community or on public transport to get to another office. Eighty six per cent of respondents felt that losing a post office means “a lot of people lose their independence” and over a quarter (27%) found it difficult to get to another post office when their local one closed. Forty three per cent of respondents felt that public transport facilities were very poor or quite poor compared to just 25% who felt they were very or quite good, emphasising the impact of not having a local post office, particularly for those without transport.
Reduced use of other post offices
Respondents generally visit a post office less frequently now that their local one has closed. Nearly half (46%) claimed they used to visit their local post office more than once a week. After it closed, their use of post offices dropped significantly with only 16% now visiting a post office more than once a week.
Over a quarter of respondents found it difficult to get to the post office they now use.
Some 8% also said they had stopped using a post office all together since their local one closed.
For those who now rely on public transport to get to the post office, the costs can be up to £156 a year for a weekly visit. 35% of these respondents estimated it cost about £1 a week, 26% estimated £2 a week and 24% estimated £3 or over a week.
In terms of the types of people most affected when a rural post office closes, the research showed that those without their own transport are most disadvantaged being 1.8 times more likely to be affected than the average rural inhabitant. The elderly (over 75) and disabled groups whose mobility is affected are similarly 1.6 times more likely to be affected. Commenting on the findings of the research, Peter Carr, Chairman of Postwatch said, “This research is emphatic in its conclusion that rural post offices have a role that transcends the provision of post office services or even the goods sold at an attached shop. When these offices close, it has a far-reaching effect both on individual customers and on the community in general. This illustrates that’s Government’s policy of preventing avoidable closures of rural post offices until 2006 is correct.
However, after more than a year we are still waiting for the Government to outline its plans to support the rural network; we hope this will result in financial assistance directly to the sub postmaster. However, this can only be an interim measure. Government will have to consider the future of the rural network beyond 2006. Post watch expects to be fully consulted on any plans for the future of the network post 2006”.
