UK Post Office says Citizens Advice report ” does not accurately reflect our network”

Post Office UK has released a statement in response to Citizens Advice report which warned of a “wave of post office closures across the country”.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “Post Office does not accept that this report accurately reflects our network of 11,500 Post Offices that has been stable for a decade. Whilst banks and traditional retailers have reduced their presence on the high street and in towns and villages, Post Office is sustaining and strengthening its network across the UK. In 2019 alone, Post Office opened over 200 branches across the network; and last year we responded to the pandemic with the fastest net growth in the network for decades. From the end of March 2021 to end December 2021 the net growth in the network was 181. Sometimes branches do close, for example if a Postmaster has decided to retire after many decades of service.

“We are grateful to nearby Postmasters who step up to help and will always seek to find a permanent replacement whilst the original branch is recorded as temporarily closed. In many locations, an existing nearby Post Office or another new branch will open to serve that community and meet the access criteria; with 99% of the public living within three miles of a Post Office and 90% within one mile. Some of our branches, including many outreach post offices, are supported by a dedicated subsidy from the government to ensure a sufficient service for the number of customers in those communities. The costs of operating the network are not fixed, and the Government should reflect this in determining the appropriate level of subsidy if it wishes to maintain current levels of service and accessibility.”