Post Office Ltd announces plans for sites in North West England

Post Office Ltd opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for Merseyside, Wirral, Cheshire, Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield 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 371 branches across the area including six outreach service points while 65 existing branches would close (see full list below).

Under the proposals, more than 99 pct of the area’s population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The six outreach services would use innovative ways to continue to provide Post Office services- particularly in smaller communities – where the existing branch is proposed for closure.

Possible types of outreach service in the Merseyside, Wirral, Cheshire, Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield area could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within a third party premises for restricted hours each week, or a partner service within the premises of a local partner such as a pub landlord.