Two Kent post offices escape closure

Kent was one of the first counties included in the Post Office’s first list of branches earmarked for closure earlier this year, with 58 stores being singled out to close their doors.

Following the six week public consultation, which ended last month, the PO announced that two branches – Cliff’s End in Ramsgate and Hawkhurst – will now remain open, while the other 56 will begin shutting shop from January.

At Cliff’s End, having taken into account local feedback, the PO said it was concerned that alternative branches were not sufficiently easy to reach and that the viability of the branch’s retail business would be threatened.

In Hawkshurst, the branch managed to convince the PO of the difficulties customers would face reaching an alternative branch.

The Post Office has singled out two further branches – Lane End in Dartford and Goodnestone – in order to meet its original number of 58. The six week public consultation on these two branches begins 11 December.

Gary Herbert, Post Office’s network development manager for Kent, said, “These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation.”