Post offices at risk of closure named

4:21pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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By Ian Morris »

HEREFORDSHIRE could be facing the loss of 20 post offices when closure proposals from Post Office Limited are announced on Wednesday.

The county is bracing itself to be hit harder than any other part of the West Midlands in the national programme to axe 2,500 post offices.

Herefordshire Council today said in a statement that post offices earmarked for closure include Brampton Bryan, Edwyn Ralph, Lyonshall and Sutton St Nicholas.

The council believes there are likely to be 20 post offices named for closure and up to 10 more recommended as ‘outreach’ facilities, meaning they will be closed and replaced by a very limited mobile service in car parks, petrol stations, village halls or local pubs.

"Outreach facilities are known to include Almeley, Bishops Frome, Cradley, Lower Eggleton, Pembridge, Upper Sapey, Whitney-on-Wye and Wigmore," the council statement read.

Councillor Roger Phillips, leader of Herefordshire Council, says communities, councillors and MPs will have to work hard together to try to protect the services that are vital to many remote and rural communities.

“It is clear that Post Office Limited is intent on closing more post offices in Herefordshire than anywhere else in the region”, he said, “and despite their assurances that there will be consultation, there is deep cynicism about the process”.

In a detailed submission to the Department of Trade and Industry, Herefordshire Council has previously argued that closure plans would see the marginalisation and exclusion of thousands of vulnerable people, such as older people, low-income families or those without a car, who rely on their local post office.

“The viability of hundreds of small rural communities across the county, especially those in remote areas, is at stake”, added councillor Phillips.

“Herefordshire is predominately rural, with more of its people living in very sparsely populated areas than any other county in England. It also has a higher age profile, and a growing population of frail, older people who depend more than most on post office services.

"Their quality of life would be seriously damaged if the government gets its way."

The council together with county councillors and parish councillors is to meet with Postwatch and Post Office Limited in early September to discuss the closure plans. The post office consultation ends on 7 October.

Herefordshire Council is fighting on two fronts to safeguard the rural way of life.