Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

Post Office Ltd today opened a period of local public consultation on its Area Plan for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. The formal period of public consultation is six weeks but this has been extended by ten calendar days for this plan to allow for the Christmas and New Year breaks. 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 the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office® services through a network of 318 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 52 existing branches.

Under the proposals, more than 99.2pct 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.

In addition to the 311 branches which are proposed to remain in the area, Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish 7 outreach services, which 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 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within third party premises for restricted hours each week, or a partner service within the premises of a local partner (such as a pub landlord).

The detailed Area Plan proposal for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland area is now available. Consultation is due to end on 10 January 2008.

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 2,500 from its current level of over 14,000, while continuing to provide funding (subject to EU state aid 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, 92.2 pct of the area’s population will see no change at all to their nearest branch. A further 99.2 pct live less than one mile, by road distance, from the nearest alternative branch, with 2pct within half a mile.