Thousands of UK post offices `won't be closed'
The Royal Mail denied today that it had any plans to close thousands of post offices but admitted it faced a “challenging” future.
Chief executive Adam Crozier repeated to MPs earlier this month that just 4,000 offices would be needed to run a basic postal service.
There are 14,500 post offices across the UK, but officials made it clear today this did not mean that 10,000 would close.
“We have absolutely no plans to close 10,000 post offices, although the outlook for the network remains challenging,” said a spokesman.
“The future of the network depends to a large extent on Government decisions. There have always been more post offices than is required for a mail service.
“That is because they have offered a range of other services in the past, most of which have been from Government.”
Ministers are currently considering whether to continue subsidising the 8,000 rural post offices, with a decision expected within weeks.
The payment of more benefits directly into banks has hit post offices and there have been warnings of fresh closures from 2010.
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