Royal Mail criticised for closing 2,500 post offices
The Trade and Industry Select Committee has criticised Royal Mail for closing 2,500 urban post offices, leaving customers ‘confused and dissatisfied’.
MPs criticised Royal Mail for not carrying out a “longer, more open and inclusive consultation process” before deciding what branches to shut. Royal Mail has an obligation to consult local communities about closures because of the post office’s provision of a social service.
According to The Times, committee members were concerned that further closures may take place under the programme which Royal Mail are calling “network reinvention”.
Urban post offices have suffered a blow to business, following the government’s decision to begin paying benefits directly into bank accounts rather than cash at post offices.
Martin O’Neill, chairman of the committee, pointed out the important social and economic roles that post offices play within communities. He said that because of this, it was vital ensure that the programme was implemented in a way that would address the concerns of customers.
O’Neill added that the consumer watchdog Postwatch was also responsible for some consumer dissatisfaction for not having a more influential role in reinvention procedures nor ensuring that suitable procedures were in place before the exercise began.
A Royal Mail spokeman told The Times: “We all want a strong urban post office network for the future. Urban network reinvention is creating a viable accessible and modern urban post office network for our customers.”
It was recently revealed that last post could be brought forward to 9am in some rural areas as part of the Royal Mail efficiency drive.
Critics claim the move could cripple small businesses that operate from rural barns and cottages. Tory MP, Anthony Steen, has urged Royal Mail chief executive, Adam Crozier, to abandon the plans because it would leave rural areas with a “third-class” postal service.
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