Statement on post office closures
At Warwickshire County Council’s full council this week there was much concern raised by the Post Office Ltd’s proposed closure of 17 Post Offices in Warwickshire.
Cllr Alan Farnell, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “We have today received the Post Office Ltd’s announcement that 17 of our 139 post offices may face closure.
“We are disappointed with this announcement and we will be looking carefully at the implications of this statement for our local communities.
“Where a closure may have a major impact or be unacceptable to the affected community,
the proposal should be reviewed thoroughly so that a solid social and economic case can be presented to the Post Office Ltd within the consultation period opposing the closure.
“Today we at the County Council have called a meeting with our colleagues in the District and Borough Councils to take place on 1st July to see how we can best support our local communities and we have invited Postwatch to this meeting.
“At today’s meeting of the full County Council, the following recommendation was passed:
That the effect of the proposals should be reviewed thoroughly and all options for responding to the social and economic effects of the proposals be examined including any ways in which the Council can support local communities.”
Fact file:
The government has instructed Post office Ltd to close 2,500 of it branches to be spread evenly over the country. The access rules laid down by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) are as follows:
99% of the UK population must be within 3 miles of a post office
(with 90% within 1 mile).
99% of the population within deprived areas must be within 1 mile of a post office.
95% of the urban population must be within 1 mile of a post office.
95% of the rural population must be within 3 miles of a post office.
The criteria for deciding which post offices are to close include:
Access (as mentioned above)
The profit or loss made.
The number of customers
Local factors eg bus routes.
Consultation timetable
The local Area plan will cover Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire.
24 June Formal consultation document outlining closure proposals starts.
4 August Consultation period closes.
29 August approx Final decisions announced.
October Post Office closures start.
The proposed closure of 17 Post Offices out of 139 that exist county wide.
The closures in Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire is 14.5%
The National average for closures in an area is 18%