Post offices in rush to shut, says county

Apr 22 2008 By Gurdip Thandi

WORRIED council chiefs have called for a longer consultation period over post offices threatened with closure.

Post Office Ltd has set aside six weeks for people to have their say on branches in Tamworth, Lichfield, Cannock and Stonnall.

Coun John Taylor, Labour leader of Staffordshire County Council, said the consultation needed to be extended to 12 months.

"Up until last week authorities and organisations across Staffordshire were playing a waiting game - waiting for the publication of the review by Post Office Ltd into the future of post offices in Staffordshire.

"Now the results of that review are out in the open we are finally in a position to draw up a response, but six weeks is not enough.

"I want the consultation extended, and 12 months seems quite reasonable.

"We do not want to see vulnerable people losing access to valuable services.

"We are not saying that those services should be provided in exactly the same way, or from exactly the same buildings, but that services must be available."

The county council is now working with partners including the Community Council of Staffordshire, other county authorities in the region and Postwatch.

The authority will also be talking to the eight district councils in Staffordshire.

Coun Taylor added that outreach alternatives such as a mobile post office or incorporating one in another community facility had not been offered.

"One of the things that immediately struck us about POL's plans for Post Offices is that they have not offered Staffordshire the outreach package that other counties will receive.

"We may be able to offer business support and guidance."