Now is time to act to save post offices

Jun 14 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal

COMMUNITIES are gearing up for action as the threat of closure hangs over one in five of the region’s post offices.

According to insiders, more than 100 of the region’s 566 branches could close in coming months as part of Government cost cutting measures, and residents are being told now is the time to act to save their post office.

The Royal Mail Group is carrying out its own research before announcing the branches that it intends to close across Northumberland, Durham and Tyne and Wear on July 1.

Local authorities in those areas will then have six weeks to put forward the cases for any post offices they think should be saved.

But Andy Dean director of regeneration and communities at Tynedale Council, warned that Royal Mail had said that closure numbers would remain the same – so if one post office was saved then another would have to go.

He said: “It is going to be a very difficult time.

“As far as we are concerned the consultation period begins on July 1 when they publish the list of post offices that will close.

“What has been made quite clear is that they are looking for people to come forward with anything specific that they may have missed. Of course, it is good to have a petitions but what is fundamental is that they are told about particular local circumstances that may effect their figures.”

Mr Dean said that drawing on the knowledge of local communities was vital, as being able to point to a new development such as a housing estate that Royal Mail may not have been aware of could be crucial in saving a post office.

Final decisions on closures will be taken on September 2, with the offices closing a month later.

While some post offices will have been told that they are on the list to close – and all are bound by confidentiality contracts preventing them from confirming this – authorities will find out the list when it is made public on July 1. MP for Hexham and the surrounding area Peter Atkinson has criticised the process, highlighting the stress it causes to communities when Royal Mail officials ask questions.

He said: “I am extremely concerned at what has been happening. In Gilsland there has been a post office chap around looking to see if there was an alternative place where a service could operate.

“People in Gilsland are now extremely worried that they are going to lose their post office and have got a lot of questions. It is extremely worrying – it is going to be a massacre.”

Last week it was suggested that even more cuts could be made after the present round, but a Royal Mail spokesman said: “It remains absolutely the case that the size and shape of the post office network is dictated by the level of Government funding and we have no desire to see the future reduction in the overall size of the post office network.”