Minister set to hear of concerns Rural post offices ‘must stay open’

THE campaign to save hundreds of rural post offices across Northern Ireland from closure is being taken directly to Industry Secretary Stephen Byers this week. Mr Byers is in Llandudno, Wales, for the annual conference of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters. And local representatives of the NFSP are there to demand answers.
They want to know the latest on developments to preserve and strengthen the UK network of 18,000 sub-post offices. Prime Minister Tony Blair has already pledged his support to rural and urban post offices after thousands of sub-postmasters lobbied MPs in April last year. They handed in to Downing Street the largest petition ever seen – three million signatures – calling on the Government to help sustain the vital post offices that provide a lifeline to many small communities. The lobby followed the unveiling of Government plans to force pensioners and benefit customers to receive their money by Automated Credit Transfer (ACT) into a bank account. Currently, the majority of the 16 million customers collect their money in cash at their local post office. The introduction of ACT in 2003 would strip away an average of 35% of a sub-postmaster’s business, placing a major question mark over the future viability of the entire post office network. Ian McClean, executive officer of the NFSP in Northern Ireland, said: “Our main concern is what the future of the sub-post office will be. “We are waiting to hear the Government’s and the Post Office’s proposals. “The traditional role of the sub-postmaster will change, there is no doubt about that. We have to move with the times. “Certainly there are fears and apprehensions about the future and where we will fit into the bigger picture. “But it is too soon to get too emotive yet. There are 600 post offices in Northern Ireland and I think the community needs them.” Mr McClean said the Post Office was involved in huge technological changes and it could be the autumn before the full plans for the sub-post offices are finalised. 2001 Copyright Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2001 Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd. Source : World
Reporter (Trade Mark)BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 15th May 2001