Post Office consultation: Shropshire County Council responds

Shropshire County Council will meet with Post Office representatives to discuss plans to close thousands of branches across the country – including some in Shropshire.

The list of branches listed for closure will be made available next Tuesday (1 April), when a consultation period will start for people to have their say on the proposals. The consultation will run until 9 June.

Councillors will meet with officials from the Post Office to debate the proposals next Thursday (3 April). Leader of the council Malcolm Pate and Cabinet member for waste and economy John Hurst-Knight will attend the meeting, along with councillors whose divisions contain branches earmarked for closure.

Council leader Malcolm Pate said: “I am very concerned at the impact these proposed closures will have on Shropshire communities. We will do everything we can to support people who want to campaign to save their local post offices, and we will put Shropshire’s case very firmly to Post Office managers when we meet them. We have lobbied the Government about the potential impact closing post offices could have, and will continue to do so.”

Cabinet member for waste and economy John Hurst-Knight said: “We realise the financial pressures the Post Office is being put under, and recognise why it is looking at restructuring the network. However, we have concerns about how this will impact on other businesses, such as village shops which currently share premises with post offices. We are working on a local recovery programme to provide advice and practical support to businesses which will be affected if post offices close.”

Shropshire County Council officers will check the facts and figures when the Post Office provides them with the consultation documents on 1 April. A group of officers from all councils in Shropshire has been working to ensure an appropriate response is provided to the Post Office as soon as possible. The council is also in close contact with the national watchdog, Postwatch, about the plans.

28 March 2008