Consultation starts on changes to Post Office network – East Essex and Suffolk
Post Office Ltd announces plans for East Essex and Suffolk
Post Office Ltd today opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for East Essex and Suffolk. 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 340 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 67 existing branches.
Under the proposals more than 99 pct 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 340 branches which are proposed to remain in the East Essex and Suffolk areas, Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish 16 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 the East Essex and Suffolk areas 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 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 14000 while continuing to provide funding (subject to state aid EU clearance) to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government.
Under the area plan proposals 92.7 pct of the area’s population will see no change in their nearest branch. A further 6.5 pct live less than one mile by road distance from the nearest alternative branch, with 2.7 pct 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 county, and has considered factors relating to geography, the availability of the 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.
