Decisions on East Midlands Post Office® Branches Announced

Post Office Ltd today announced decisions on the future of Post Office® branches across the East Midlands area following a six week public consultation ending on 12 November. Post Office® services will be provided through a network of 360 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government and ensures that 99 pct of the county’s population will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The plan confirmed today means that 75 branches will close in the East Midlands’ with the first closures scheduled to take place in January 2008. These branches were detailed in the Area Plan proposal published on 2 October 2007.

The replacement of 11 branches by outreach solutions was also confirmed in principal today subject to final agreement with Postwatch. Post Office Ltd is now working on finalising the details of the specific solution that replaces each branch, this information will be published shortly. The outreach solutions 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 .

Two branches originally proposed for closure – Melton Road and Ryhall Road – will now remain open following a review of the issues raised during consultation.

During public consultation feedback highlighted that Melton Road branch is a major hub for the shopping area, and as a result we revisited our original assumptions about whether the alternative branches would have the capacity and space to absorb the expected increase in customers. Whilst at Ryhall Road concerns related to the impact on elderly people, the distance to the alternative branches and the public transport facilities. Other issues highlighted included the impact on local businesses, the parking facilities at the alternative branches and their ability to cope with additional customers.

Additionally, as a result of the information provided during the six week public consultation process, improvements will be made to 22 branches in the East Midlands plan area to improve accessibility, particularly for customers with disabilities, or to increase capacity by providing additional counter positions.

These decisions have been reached after consultation and Postwatch, the consumer body representing Post Office® customers, has verified the correct consultation procedures were followed. Postwatch has confirmed that it will not ask for any decision to be further reviewed by Post Office Ltd.

In order to ensure that the planned future network can be supported by the available funding from Government and meets the criteria it has set, including the requirement that no part of the UK is advantaged or disadvantaged relative to other areas, Post Office Ltd is proposing the closure of two further branches – Chaddesden in Derby and Park Road in Ilkeston. Six weeks public consultation on these two proposals will start shortly.

During the six week local public consultation, Post Office Ltd received around 7,100 responses and attended more than 20 meetings with customers and their representatives to understand customers’ concerns and to ensure that all information provided by customers formed part of the final decision regarding each affected branch.

Mark Partington, Post Office Ltd’s Network Development Manager for East Midlands, said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation. We believe that the amended plan announced today offers our customers across the East Midlands area the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government’s minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider."