Consultation starts on changes to post office network in Cumbria
Post Office Ltd opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for Cumbria 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 226 branches across the area, including 10 outreach outlets, while 35 existing branches would close.
Under the proposals, 98.5% of the area’s population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile of an alternative branch.
The 10 outreach services 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 outlet could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within a 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 is now available from Post Office Ltd at www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange, by emailing: [email protected] or by writing to: Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp required).
Post Office Ltd is now seeking views on the proposed future service provision in the area, in particular views on access to Post Office services, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure and the appropriate form of outreach to be provided.
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 14,000, while continuing to provide funding to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government.
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