Campaigns

Post Office closures

Summary: Information about proposed Post Office closures and how you can take action.

• Public consultation
• Which offices will close?
• How to get involved
• Campaigning locally
• How will people access Post Office services?
• What is RNIB doing?

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Post Office closures

The Government has announced that 2,500 Post Offices will close following their review of the Post Office Network.

The closure programme will start in Summer 2007 and is expected to last 18 months. MPs, local authorities and stakeholders including Community Groups will be informed about which offices Post Office Limited (POL) propose for closure in specific areas. POL will place notices in the Post Offices that are proposed for closure.

Public consultation

Before any closures take place there will then be a local six week public consultation period. This is your opportunity to raise issues or objections regarding the proposed closure of your Post Office.

Information about which offices are proposed for closure is not yet available. During the course of the 18-month closure programme, details will be announced area by area. In July Post Office Limited will publish the timetable of when they expect to announce plans for each area. Details of this will be available from Postwatch on 0845 601 3265.

Which offices will close?

The Government has set out 'access criteria' which POL should use as the basis on which they make their decision about which offices should close. These criteria cover things like the number of people that must live within a set distance of their nearest Post. For more information contact Postwatch on 0845 601 3265.

How to get involved

Concerns or issues that you would like to raise in your response to a public consultation in your area can be sent directly to Post Office Limited or Postwatch (the consumer body representing the interests of customers). In due course details will be published by Postwatch on how to take part in the local consultation.

Campaigning locally

You might wish to link up with other organisations and individuals who are campaigning on this issue locally. Look out for information in your local paper or on local radio about others who are opposing the proposed closure in your area. The Countryside Alliance, Women's Institute, Towns Women's Guild and National Pensioners Convention have campaigned on issues around Post Office services, a local branch may well be campaigning on proposed closures.

We would advise you to contact your MP to raise any concerns that you have. If you don't know who your MP is you can contact the House of Commons Information Office on 020 7219 3000. You might also consider contacting your local authority or Councillor.

How will people access Post Office services?

When Post Offices are closed, Post Office Limited will either direct people to travel to the nearest office or will, in certain circumstances, provide alternative means of providing the services that you currently receive from your Post Office. It may be that a mobile Post Office will visit the area on a regular basis; services may be provided through another business in the area - either in a local shop or pub or other outlet. There are a number of possibilities. POL will outline what alternative proposals may be put in place for some of the areas where they propose closing a Post Office.

What is RNIB doing?

RNIB will not be able to campaign on individual closures. We are campaigning nationally on this issue to encourage people to take part in local consultations and to ensure that the closure process and alternative arrangements take into account the needs of blind and partially sighted people. We are providing information to blind and partially sighted people about the process, how to get involved and who to contact.

For more information contact Postwatch on 08456 013265.

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 08/04/2008 18:38