‘Virtual’ post offices could be an answer

Sep 8 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A COMMUNITY retail adviser is to consult with North East villages that have lost their post offices over the possibility of creating “virtual” replacements.

The Journal exclusively revealed on Tuesday that 80 North East post offices are to close despite campaigns and public outcry.

But Charlotte Boxall, who works for the Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA) says communities need not “shrug their shoulders and get on with it”.

Mrs Boxall, of Hepple, near Morpeth, Northumberland, believes there are ways in which traditional services can be provided from a local shop without it being an official post office.

“It seems to me that it comes down to taking responsibility for what you want in your own community.

“You could set up a virtual post office where, like any business, a contract can be set up with Royal Mail.

“You can get most of the forms you pick up at the post office on the internet and, when people go in for cash, you can use a cash-back service.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to show that people are concerned about the wellbeing of their own communities.”

Mrs Boxall explained that there are many funding opportunities through the Rural Development Agency and that she is currently speaking to people in the affected communities to gauge any interest.

“It can be achieved through grants or through individual subscription.

“There are a lot of very wealthy people in the North East.

“I would like to point out to communities that they don’t have to shrug their shoulders and get on with it.

“They can decide to take responsibility and invest in their community. I can help them go about it, if they want.”

A six-week consultation by Post Office Limited on the future of 81 offices in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham finished in July.

Just one office, in Blaydon, has been saved by the process.

Twenty-four rural branches in Northumberland and Durham are being replaced by a mobile van, while a further 56 in urban areas are to close.

It is unknown what the exact timetable for the closures will be, but it is thought some could close by October.

Graham Fremlin owns the Longframlington paper shop, near Morpeth, which was formerly a post office.

He was told almost a year ago that it was to be “temporarily closed” but received official notification this week that it was to be permanently shut.

“You get some people who stand around and say ‘I wish this’ and ‘I wish that’ but in this village people are willing to put the effort in.

“The idea of the virtual post offices is definitely something we will be looking in to.

“It’s a vital resource in the village. It particularly affects the elderly people so anything we can do will help a great deal.”