Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for West Berkshire and Wiltshire
Post Office Ltd today opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for West Berkshire and Wiltshire. 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(www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page36024.html) the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office® services through a network of 234 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 36 existing branches.
Under the proposals, more than 99.4pct 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 223 branches which are proposed to remain in the West Berkshire and Wiltshire area, Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish 11 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 West Berkshire and Wiltshire 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 West Berkshire and Wiltshire area 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, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure and the appropriate form of outreach service to be provided. Consultation is due to end on 31 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 to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government
Tim Nickolls, Post Office Ltd’s Network Development Manager for West Berkshire and Wiltshire said, "Taking the decision to close any Post Office branch is always very difficult and we know will cause concern to many of our customers. We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office® services is both fully aware of the proposed changes, and able to give views on them.
"Post Office Ltd’s aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the minimum access criteria set by the Government. Rural parts of the area – where 43pct of the population live – would be served by a total of 140 branches, 80 of which provide the only access to cash in their communities. Urban areas would be served by 94 branches including 5 Crown Post Offices. A total of 3 branches will specifically serve communities defined as deprived, supporting the Government’s focus on the provision of services in these locations.
"We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for Post Office services in West Berkshire and Wiltshire, bearing in mind the minimum access criteria and the other factors to which we have to have regard."
Under the Area Plan Proposals, 91.2pct of the area’s population will see no change at all to their nearest branch. A further 8.2pct live less than one mile, by road distance, from the nearest alternative branch, with 3.4pct 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 area, and has considered factors relating to geography, the availability of 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.
