Hundreds of post offices to shut in Scotland

Hundreds of post offices across Scotland are set to be closed as part of government plans to be announced this week.

AlistairDarling, the Trade and Industry Secretary, will reveal the response to a consultation on closures which campaigners believe will spell the end for as many as 800 branches in Scotland. Pensioners’ groups and rural communities have been outraged by the programme they fearwill cut off many people from vital services.

However, the government insists the network is losing millions of pounds every week and is impossible to sustain. Around 2500 post offices are understood to be closing out of a total of 14,000 in the UK but with a high proportion in Scotland. Between one-quarter and one-third of all closures are believed to be north of the border.

Figures from consumer group Postwatch show the number of post offices in Britain has fallen from 18,393 in 1999 to 14,376 in 2005.

Last June there were 1676 post offices in Scotland – 1117 in rural areas and 559 in urban areas.

Mr Darling has said many remote post offices which do not meet the criteria will be allowed to remain open but hundreds are still expected to close.

In its consultation document, issued last year, the DTI warned: “Post offices face a long-term challenge. From online services, e-mail, phone and internet banking, direct debit, text messaging – people are increasingly choosing to live in different ways.

“Some four million fewer people are using their post office each week than two years ago.

“The network lost GBP2m every single week last year, rising to GBP4m this year. That can’t go on.”

New criteria over how far away people should be expected to live from their nearest post office will change and the closures are expected by hit urban as well as rural areas.

Under the new rules, 95per cent of the urban population will be within one mile of a post office and in rural areas 95per cent should be within three miles and in remote areas 95per cent within six miles.

There is not thought to be any hope for a reprieve for those branches thought unsustainable where there is at least one other within the new geographical criteria.

A spokeswoman for Postwatch said: “It is a very emotive subject and the announcement is not going to be popular. We are expecting confirmation of 2500 closures across the UK by 2009.

“If we get a sustainable network at the end of this then it can be good. Planned compensated closures are better than individual branches which are not sustainable closing down.

“We hope the government has listened to Postwatch and others who responded to the consultation.

“We want to see local consultation and a proper strategic plan put in place to ensure people still have access to the services.”

Councils across Scotland expressed their concerns to the DTI with some expecting to lose a quarter of existing Post Offices.

The announcement is due as the Union of Communication Workers is preparing to ballot 140,000 members on strike action over a dispute about pay. The union is unhappy about a 2.5per cent pay offer. A ballot is also expected over plans to transfer some post offices to WH Smith branches.

The DTI and Royal Mail declined to comment before the announcement.