Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office® Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for Sussex

Post Office Ltd today opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for Sussex. 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 the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office® services through a network of 234 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 49 existing branches.

Under the proposals more than 99pct 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.

Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish two new outreach services in the Sussex area, 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 Sussex area 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 Sussex is now available.

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 2500 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.

Gary Herbert, Post Office Ltd’s Network Development Manager for Sussex 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.

Under the area plan proposals 90.6 pct of the area’s population will see no change in their nearest branch. A further 9 pct live less than one mile by road distance from the nearest alternative branch, with 3.5 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.