Consultation starts on changes to Post Office network – (Yorkshire, UK)
Post Office Ltd opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for North Yorkshire, Yorkshire East and Keighley.
The Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 271 branches across the area, including 23 outreach service points, while 31 existing branches would close (see full list below).
Under the proposals, more than 99.7 pct of the area’s population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile of an alternative branch.
The 23 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 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.
Post Office Ltd is now seeking views on the proposed future service provision in the area, in particular views on access to Post Office services, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure and the appropriate form of outreach to be provided. Consultation is due to end on 17 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.
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