Post Office changes are making the service unviable, says former Crewkerne postmistress

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Sandi Brocklehurst, who ran the East Street store from 1996 until she retired in 2009, says that the changes mean that running a post office has become unviable, with the services it was traditionally known for offering now available through other means.

The East Street branch closed last week, two weeks earlier than planned, after the owner of the building decided to sell the premises.

Mrs Brocklehurst expressed her sadness at the closure of the branch, but says she cannot see a way in which a Post Office at a new location in Crewkerne would make money.

She said: "Over the last few years Post Office Limited have been modernising the network under what they call network transformation. As a result new contracts have been offered to Sub-postmasters, but these reduce their remuneration and the types of transactions they can perform.

"The current remuneration offered for Crewkerne Post Office makes it unviable for the post office to remain in its current premises, as taking the current rent and uniform business rates into account plus staffing costs, there would be very little left for the sub-postmaster to make a living.

"The post office now says that post offices need a vibrant retail side to supplement it, but this is no longer the case as selling a few birthday cards and a little stationery is just not enough.

"Commercial and retail rents are far too high, and add in the uniform business rates, electric and water, and you would require £30,000 a year just to open the doors.

"The only way a post office in Crewkerne would be viable is for it to be incorporated into an existing business. Taking into account the amount of space and security required, there are not many businesses in Crewkerne that could, or would want to, take on a post office."

Mrs Brocklehurst said that a drop in visitor numbers was also to blame for the decline of the service.

She added: "If Crewkerne folk really want a main post office they must use it.

"Tax your car at the post office, buy your stamps there, pay your bills there. Do your banking at the post office, purchase your travel insurance at the post office, use the post office for your passport check and send.

"Go and see what your post office can offer."

A spokesman for the Post Office said: "We have more than 5,000 modernised post offices since our largest ever branch modernisation programme began in 2012.

"Modernisation has taken place at existing locations where there is a viable retail business. We have Post Office retail team advisors and field change advisors who are supporting postmasters to develop their business and convert to modern post offices or if a postmaster wishes to leave the network, if we can find a suitable nearby retailer, then we support with that journey.

"Many existing postmasters have changed or improved their retail offering. Some have expanded their existing stores or moved to larger premises to develop the retail side of their business. We also have many new postmasters who have taken on post offices at their existing store or have started a new business venture.

"We believe the new contracts are a fair offer for postmasters. They receive investment to modernise their branch and expert advice to make the most from their retail business. Customer satisfaction is very high and postmasters report increased retail sales. The new-style branches allow longer opening hours, which are very convenient for post office customers and they may well make retail purchases at the same time."