3,000 UK urban post offices facing axe
A THIRD of Britain’s urban post offices face being shut down, it was revealed yesterday.
Royal Mail chiefs want to axe 3,000 branches to save money -including 54 in Birmingham, 34 in Leeds, 28 in Liverpool, 24 in Manchester and 23 in Newcastle.
Sixty per cent of towns and cities will lose at least five POs.
The main branches and sub offices are casualties of the debt-ridden Royal Mail’s efforts to protect rural offices.
The cuts from a total of 17,500 POs follow losses of Pounds 100million and the closure of 547 branches last year.
A Pounds 200million Government compensation fund will help axed offices.
Postmasters in loss-making branches will be offered an average Pounds 67,600 to shut up shop.
Vulnerable Liberal Democrat trade spokesman Vincent Cable last night claimed the plan would hit the poor and elderly who used post offices like a bank.
He said: “The post office network forms the hub of many local communities. In some areas they are the only remaining retail outlet.
“For some people, these changes will be a huge inconvenience.
“For many others, having to open and operate a bank account will create massive problems.
“The needs of the most vulnerable groups are not being addressed at all.”
