COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE

Responding to the news today that up to 2,000 rural post offices will close from next summer to be converted into ‘PO Locals’ with limited counter services; Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “This is essentially a downgrading of the postal services offered to local communities. The PO Local model will create a lower quality public service and will simply not be financially viable for most sub postmasters. Isolated rural communities stand to suffer the most from the closures and loss of postal services.  We are concerned that there has been insufficient public scrutiny of the new model and the effect it will have on people’s everyday lives.
“We believe that for the Government to ensure the long term future of our Post Office network, they need to come through on their promise to make Post Offices the front line of Government. Before rushing into a decision and taking away Post Offices from the most vulnerable communities, the Government should consult on a more long-term strategy for the Post Office network. We believe that the long term viability of the network will only be safeguarded if Post Offices start offering more services, including financial and banking services.”