Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Kent
Post Office Ltd today opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for Kent. In line with the criteria and factors set by the Government in its response document, DTI The Post Office Network, Government Response to Public Consultation May 2007 (www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page36024.html) the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 295 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 58 existing branches.
Under the proposals more than 99 pct of the area’s population will either see no change to their nearest branch, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.
The detailed Area Plan proposal for Kent is now available. To obtain a copy visit www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or write to Post Office Ltd at Freepost Consultation (no stamp required ) or email [email protected]. Post Office Ltd is now seeking views on the proposed future service provision in the area including in particular views on access to Post Office® services and the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure. Consultation is due to end on 12 November 2007.
The Government has already undertaken a 12 week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK wide network of Post Office branches by up to 2500 from its current level of over 14000 while continuing to provide funding (subject to state aid EU clearance) to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government.
Under the area plan proposals 90.9 pct of the area’s population will see no change in their nearest branch. A further 8.3 pct live less than one mile by road distance from the nearest alternative branch, with 3 pct within half a mile.
Post Office Ltd has reached these proposals after engaging with, and taking input from the independent consumer watchdog on postal services, Postwatch, and from all local authorities within the county, and has considered factors relating to geography, the availability of the local transport and alternative access to key Post Office® services, local demographics and the impact on local economies. Views on all these factors are welcomed during the consultation process.
