Decisions on Northern Ireland Post Office® branches
Post Office Ltd today (Tuesday, 3 June) announced decisions on the future of Post Office® branches across Northern Ireland following a six-week public consultation that ended on 12 May 2008.
Post Office services will be provided through a network of 496 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government and ensures that over 94.1% of the population in Northern Ireland will see no change.
The plan confirmed today means that 38 branches will close in Northern Ireland with the first closures scheduled to take place in July 2008. These branches were detailed in the Area Plan proposal published on 1 April 2008. Post Office Limited is also confirming the creation of 53 outreach Post Office services.
Four branches originally proposed for closure – Parkhall Post Office, Unit 1, Parkhall Shopping Centre, Queen’s Road, Antrim BT41 1AJ, Strathroy Post Office, 1a-3a Meelmore Drive, Strathroy, Omagh BT79 7XJ, The Throne Post Office, The Throne Centre, Whitewell Road, Newtownabbey BT36 7EX, and Attical Post Office, 2 Attical Bog Road, Kilkeel, Newry BT34 4HT, which was originally proposed for replacement by an outreach service, – will now remain open following a review of the issues raised during public consultation.
During the local public consultation, Post Office Limited was informed of significant evidence of local regeneration with regard to both Parkhall and Strathroy Post Office branches and taking this, and all other factors into consideration, Post Office Limited has decided to retain both branches in its network.
The proposal to close The Throne Post Office was dependent on the reopening of a branch at the Abbey Centre. Post Office Limited has been unable to confirm this reopening and, taking this and all other factors into consideration, has decided not to proceed with the closure of The Throne branch.
With regard to the Attical branch, Post Office Limited recognises the need to retain access to Post Office services in this area and, taking all relevant factors into consideration, has decided that a mobile outreach service was not a feasible option. Post Office Limited will therefore not be proceeding with the proposed outreach service and Attical Post Office will remain in the network.
In addition, while Post Office Limited has decided to proceed with the closure of Groomsport Post Office, it will be exploring the option of replacing the branch with a form of outreach service.
Post Office Limited is also offering increased opening hours at the following outreach services in response to feedback received during local public consultation: Boho Post Office (Enniskillen), Dunnamore Post Office (Cookstown), Park Post Office (Londonderry), Altnamachin Post Office (Newtownhamilton), Loughgall Post Office (Armagh), Killough Post Office (Downpatrick) and Ballyhalbert Post Office (Newtownards).
There are no proposals for any further closures in the Northern Ireland Area Plan.
These decisions have been reached after public consultation and Postwatch, the consumer body representing Post Office customers, has verified that the correct consultation procedures were followed.
During the six-week public consultation, Post Office Limited received approximately 4,500 responses and attended 97 meetings with customers and their representatives to understand customers’ concerns and to ensure that all the information provided by customers formed part of the final decision regarding each affected branch.
Sheila McCann, Post Office Limited’s Network Development Manager for Northern Ireland, said: "These are difficult decisions that have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all comments made during the public consultation. We believe that the plan announced today offers our customers in Northern Ireland the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government’s minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider."
Full details of the decisions and the issues raised during local public consultation are available by visiting www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or by writing to Post Office Limited at Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp required) or by emailing [email protected]
Ends
Issued by Post Office Ltd
6th Floor, Royal Mail House, 20 Donegall Quay, BELFAST BT1 1AA
NOTES TO EDITORS
The following 38 Post Office® branches will close as part of the Northern Ireland Area Plan.
(The decision on whether to proceed with the closure of Finnis Post Office branch in Dromore has been postponed due to a bereavement.)
Battlehill, 57 Battlehill Road, Portadown, CRAIGAVON BT62 4ES
Belmont, 1 Campbell Park Avenue, BELFAST BT4 3FH
Black’s Road, 120 Black’s Road, BELFAST BT10 0NF
Bolea, 80 Bolea Road, LIMAVADY BT49 0QT
Burren, 9 Bridge Road, WARRENPOINT, NEWRY BT34 3PZ
Carlisle Circus, 14 Antrim Road, BELFAST BT15 2AA
Carlisle Road, 36 Carlisle Road, LONDONDERRY BT48 6JW
Cave Hill, 634 Antrim Road, BELFAST BT15 5GP
Chapeltown, Ardglass, DOWNPATRICK BT30 7SR
Clonoe, 50 Mountjoy Road, DUNGANNON BT71 5EF
Cloyfin, 22 Creamery Road, COLERAINE BT52 2NE
Crosskeys, 150 Crosskeys Road, Toomebridge, ANTRIM BT41 3PY
Culcrum, 52 kilmandil Road, Dunloy, BALLYMENA BT44 9BH
Culnady, 87 Culnady Road, Upperlands, MAGHERA BT46 5TN
Drumgath, 58 Drumlough Road, Rathfriland, NEWRY BT34 5DP
Drumraighland, 97 Baranilt Road, Dromore, LIMAVADY BT49 9HN
Eleven Lane Ends, 61 Clare Road, Tandragee, CRAIGAVON BT62 2EZ
Garvery, Garvey One, Tempo Road, ENNISKILLEN BT74 4QR
Glenbush, 20 Glenbush Road, BALLYMONEY BT53 8YG
Granville, 76 Granville Road, DUNGANNON BT70 1NJ
*Groomsport, 45-47 Main Street, Groomsport, BANGOR BT19 6JR
Grosvenor Street, 263 Grosvenor Road, BELFAST BT12 4LL
Killans, 136 Bendooragh Road, BALLYMONEY BT53 7NN
Killycolpy, 30 Killycolpy Road, DUNGANNON BT71 5AJ
Lisburn Road, 217 Lisburn Road, BELFAST BT9 7EJ
McAdams Cross Roads, 17 Leapoges Road, DROMORE BT25 1EJ
Millbrook, 108 Drumahoe Road, LARNE BT40 2SN
Millburn, 14 Artillery Road, COLERAINE BT52 1QJ
Orangefield, 276 Castlereagh Road, BELFAST BT5 6AD
Ormeau Road, 160 Ormeau Road, BELFAST BT7 2ED
Rathkenny, 412 Cushendall Road, BALLYMENA BT43 6QE
Salisbury Square, 27 Henry Street, BALLMENA BT42 3AH
Sandholes, 1 Tullylagan Road, COOKSTOWN BT80 9AX
Straidarran, 522a Glenshane Road, Claudy, LONDONDERRY BT47 4BT
Summerhill, 3 Summerhill Avenue, BELFAST BT5 7HD
The Quay, 11 North Street, BALLYCASTLE BT54 6BN
Toughblane, 11 Ballyknock Road, HILLSBOROUGH BT26 6EF
Union Street, 194 Union Street, LURGAN BT66 8EQ
*Post Office Ltd is to proceed with the closure of Groomsport Post Office but will explore the option of replacing it with an outreach service
The following 53 Post Office branches will be replaced by an outreach service:
Altnamachin, 79 Blaney Road, Altnamachin, NEWRY BT35 0EA
Annahilt, 261 Ballynahinch Road, Annahilt, HILLSBOROUGH BT26 6BP
Ardgarvan, 4 Ballyavelin Road, LIMAVADY BT49 0NE
Ardstraw, 10 Carnkenny Road, Ardstraw, OMAGH BT78 4LN
Altamuskin, 177 Altamuskin Road, Sixmilecross, OMAGH BT79 9JA
Aughabrack, 248 Lisnargh Road, Aughabrack, Dunamanagh, STRABANE BT82 0SD
Ballycassidy, Cloughbally, Ballinamallard, ENNISKILLEN BT94 2FN
Ballygally, 272 Coast Road, Ballygally, LARNE BT40 2QX
Ballyhalbert, 24-28 High Street, Ballyhalbert, NEWTOWNARDS BT22 1BL
Ballintoy, 20 Main Street, Ballintoy, BALLYCASTLE BT54 6LX
Ballykinler, 75 Commons Road, DOWNPATRICK BT30 8DQ
Ballynacorr, 9 Carbet Road, Portadown, CRAIGAVON BT63 5RJ
Ballyward, 125 Ballyward Road, Ballyward, CASTLEWELLAN BT31 9PS
Ballyvoy, 8 Torr Road, Ballyvoy, BALLYCASTLE BT54 6RB
Belleeks, 15 Main Street, Belleeks, NEWRY BT35 7PH
Boho, Lesky, ENNISKILLEN BT74 5BA
Boveva, 294 Drumrane Road, Dungiven, LONDONDERRY BT47 4NL
Cabragh, 230 Ballygawley Road, Cabragh, DUNGANNON BT70 1TF
Carnalbanagh, 30 Glenview Road, Glenarm, BALLYMENA BT44 0DL
Carnteel, 17 Main Street, Carnteel, AUGHNACLOY BT69 6EA
Churchtown, 16 Churchtown Road, COOKSTOWN BT80 9XD
Cladymore, 46 Cladymore Road, Mowhan, ARMAGH BT60 2EP
Derrynoose, 79 Derrynoose Road, Keady, ARMAGH BT60 3EZ
Derrytrasna, 19 Pier Rampart, Derryadd, CRAIGAVON BT66 6QH
Desert Martin, 7 Main Street, Desertmartin, MAGHERAFELT BT45 5LN
Drumlough, 179 Dromara Road, HILLSBOROUGH BT26 6QA
Drumnakilly, 5 Streefe Road, Drumnakilly, OMAGH BT79 0LW
Drumskinney, Drumnagreshial, Kesh, ENNISKILLEN BT93 1EJ
Dunamanagh, 2D Demnet House, Dunamanagh, STRABANE BT82 0QL
Dunnamore, 41 Dunnamore Road, COOKSTOWN BT80 9NT
Dunseverick, 230 Whitepark Road, Dunseverick, BUSHMILLS BT57 8SP
Feeny, 71 Main Street, Feeny, LONDONDERRY BT47 4TD
Garvaghy, 91 Knockgorm Road, BANBRIDGE BT32 3TE
Gortaclare, 29 Curr Road, Beragh, Sixmilecross, OMAGH BT79 0UP
Katesbridge, 2 Katesbridge Road, Katesbridge, BANBRIDGE BT32 5PZ
Killough, 21c Castle Street, Killough, DOWNPATRICK BT30 7QQ
Jerrettspass, 100 Tandragee Road, Jerrettpass, NEWRY BT35 6LN
Letterbreen, Letterbreen, ENNISKILLEN BT74 9FH
Liscloon, 80 Longland Road, Dunamanagh, STRABANE BT82 0PN
Lisnadill, 104 Newtownhamilton Road, ARMAGH BT60 2PR
Loughgall, 56 Main Street, Loughgall, ARMAGH BT61 8HZ
Loughinisland, 149 Newcastle Road, SEAFORDE BT30 8PL
Loughmacrory, 161 Loughmacrory Road, Carrickmore, OMAGH BT79 9LF
Moneyglass, 6a Loughbeg Road, Toomebridge, ANTRIM BT41 3TN
Moorfields, 166 Moorfields Road, BALLYMENA BT42 3EF
Mountfield, Mena’s, 16A Main Street, Mountfield, OMAGH BT79 7PP
Park, 209 Learmount Road, Park Village, LONDONDERRY BT47 4BA
Silverbridge, 33 Silverbridge Rd, Crossmaglen, NEWRY BT35 9LF
Stralongford, 190 Tummery Road, Trillick, OMAGH BT78 3TY
Stranocum, 2-4 Main Street, Stranocum, BALLYMONEY BT53 8PE
Temple, 88C Carryduff Road, LISBURN BT27 6YL
Tullyhommon, 6 High Street, Tullyhommon, KESH BT93 8DB
Urney, 153 Urney Road, Clady, STRABANE BT82 9RP
The final opening times of the outreach services and the date of changes will be communicated as soon as possible.
A full list of the 496 Northern Ireland Post Office branches which will remain in the network is available on request.
Government’s access criteria:
Nationally:
• 99% of the UK population will be within 3 miles and 90% of the UK population will be within 1 mile of the nearest Post Office branch.
• 99% of the total population within urban deprived1 areas will be within 1 mile of the nearest branch.
• 95% of the total population within urban2 areas will be within 1 mile of the nearest branch.
• 95% of the total population within rural areas3 will be within 3 miles of the nearest branch.
In addition:
• 95% of the population of each postcode district will be within 6 miles of their nearest branch.
1 The most disadvantaged urban parts of the UK based on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (top 15% Super Output Areas in England, 15% of Data Zones in Scotland, and 30% of Super
Output Areas in Wales and Northern Ireland.
2 A community with 10,000 or more inhabitants in a continuous built-up area.
3 A community not covered by the definition of Urban above.
