OUTRAGE AS POST OFFICES OPEN FOR JUST A FEW HOURS

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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MORE than 900 post offices have been turned into part-time branches open for just a few hours a week, a report reveals.

The move will impact heavily on millions of older people who depend on a post office for their pension, benefits and to pay bills.

It will also hit small ­businesses.

Almost one in 10 post offices operates as a mobile “outreach” branch – often in a community ­centre or van – with a limited service, according to the latest Post Office data.

Ministers insist they are committed to maintaining the 11,800-strong network, which includes nearly 200 post office “locals” in mini-supermarkets and petrol stations.

But critics say services have been seriously curtailed with “downgraded” post offices no longer offering key services such as passport renewals and the issuing of foreign currency.

Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK, said: “Post offices are a real lifeline for many older people who use them as a ‘one-stop’ shop to access their pension, benefits, pay their bills, get advice and even in cases to socialise.

“It is imperative there is as little disruption as possible to the service for older customers during this programme of conversion.”

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers’ Union, said: “These figures disguise the full picture as not every post office is the same and many communities are being cut off from post office services.

“The outreach branches often provide only a partial service with a limited range of products for one day a week on a mobile basis.” T

he Post Office’s Network Report says 87 branches have shut since 2010 as sub-postmasters have retired or quit without finding a buyer for the business.


Labour postal affairs spokesman Ian Murray said: “Despite government rhetoric that there is no planned closure programme, there is the danger of closures by stealth.

“The Government should be working to ensure the range of services is expanded as that is vital to the long-term future of the post office network.”

The Post Office insists the network is at its “most stable” for more than a quarter of century.

Ministers also claim that they are ploughing £1.34million into the network to safeguard its long-term future.

[DirtyHarry]

The nation's postal service is virtually non-existent. Well, compared to 10 years ago, it is.

[Blaswot]

This is bullshit. They're trying to do this in the states, too.