Slim chance of reprieve for post office branches, says Rural Shops Alliance

Ken Parsons, chief executive of the RSA, said: “The small number of post offices saved from closure is very disappointing for all the people who have campaigned so hard, but it does reflect the fact that Post Office staff have generally applied the criteria fairly and accurately.

“Given the task they have been set, they have done a very professional job.”

Each of the saved branches has been replaced by another as the Post Office is obliged to shut a fixed number of outlets under its official closure programme.

The RSA said the low number of reprieves granted came despite “a very strong public response to the proposed closures”.

So far, public consultation on the closures has been completed in eight areas:

• Kent
• East Midlands
• East Yorkshire/Bassetlaw/North Lincs
• East Essex/Suffolk
• Hampshire/Isle of Wight
• Greater Glasgow
• Cardiff & Glamorgan Valleys
• Merseyside/Wirral/Cheshire

In most cases, said the RSA, decisions to retain offices revolved around:

• the difficulties customers would face accessing alternative offices (particularly by public transport)
• recognition of the demographics of a catchment area, or
• recognition of future developments in the area

It added that the closure rate in the eight areas so far was about 15% of post office branches. To hit its target of 2,500 branches, the Post Office will need to close 18% of branches.

The RSA said: “This suggests that the areas towards the end of the programme may suffer a higher rate of closure to enable Post Office Ltd to reach the overall targets.”