Post offices could take to the roads
Mar 21 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
COUNCIL bosses are to look at running their own post offices in mobile libraries and community buildings following a raft of expected closures across the region.
Durham County Council’s cabinet said yesterday it would explore the use of its resources in “alternative post office provision” including mobile libraries and services in community buildings owned by the council.
Newcastle City Council is also examining moving post offices into council service buildings to keep the facilities as close to communities as possible.
The Post Office announced plans to shut 14 of its branches in County Durham, with more closures across the North East set to be announced in June and July.
The first closures will be made in the southern part of Durham County, and Coun Brian Myers, cabinet member for social inclusion at Durham County Council, said: “There are no alternative services proposed for the areas affected and this could have a devastating effect.”
Earlier this month, Hexham MP Peter Atkinson suggested a scheme put forward by Essex County Council to run post offices itself could be extended to authorities in the North East.
Already Northumberland County Council has said it is “monitoring” the closure situation, and “will look to other councils to see what they are doing nearer the time.”
Yesterday Nigel Martin, leader of the LibDem opposition group on Durham County Council, recommended examining how Essex County Council runs its own post offices. He said: “No doubt such a course of action would be pricey, but we as a local authority have a duty to support local services.” Councillors agreed to look at the Essex model.
Anita Lower, executive member for regulation at Newcastle city Council, said: “At the moment, we aren’t in the phase of proposals for which post offices will go, but we are very much expecting the worst. Until we know exactly what they are proposing, it is very difficult to prepare and we are going to have a fight on our hands.”
Coun Lower was also critical of the consultation period clashing with the summer period, meaning many people could be away while vital decisions were made.
The moves come after the Tories failed, by 288 votes to 268, to halt the compulsory closure of up to 2,500 sub-post offices.
Earlier this year, Tynedale Council lodged its own concerns over the timing of the consultation period with Royal Mail.
A Northumberland County Council spokesman said the council was taking an “active interest” in how other authorities were dealing with the problem.
The County Durham post offices that are set to be closed so far are in: Bolam, Boldron, Hutton Henry, Hutton Magna, Jubilee Fields, Kirk Merrington, Leeholme, Page Bank, Romaldkirk, Simpasture, South Church, Toft Hill, Tudhoe Colliery and Winston.
The Post Office says the closures are necessary because the service is making huge losses. Pat McFadden, the minister responsible for postal policy, has acknowledged the closures are unpopular and arouse strong feelings.
