"Nearly half" of the existing 11,500 Post Offices are no longer profitable, according to a Government consultation

[POSTMAN]

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/uk- ... d-10554229

locations could be put as risk in major shake-up

Nearly 6,000 Post Offices could be permanently shut under plans for a significant overhaul.

A recent Government consultation has disclosed that "nearly half" of the existing 11,500 Post Offices are no longer profitable, with part-time or shared-space branches also at risk of closure.

The consultation acknowledges that elderly individuals residing in rural areas would be most severely affected. The Future of Post Office consultation, which concluded on October 6, has been exploring methods to "modernise and strengthen" the postal network.

The document also hints at a potential redefinition of what constitutes a Post Office "branch" in the future, suggesting that "drop and collect" boxes could be classified as Post Offices.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business told the Mail: "It is right to consider a range of options to secure the organisation's long-term future but our preference is to keep the overall size and shape of the network the same.", reports the Mirror.

In July, the Government initiated a green paper examining the operation of the organisation.

The Post Office is proposing an expansion of its services to include pharmacy prescription collection, digital ID and business advice.

However, it has also urged the Government to consider tailored tax relief for Post Offices. The company has also requested permission from the Government to extend its enhanced banking and parcel services with new offerings, such as advice for small businesses.

The Post Office is advancing with plans to divest 115 directly owned branches, known as crown Post Offices. These could be transferred to retail partners or postmasters, or potentially face closure, and are predominantly located in city centres.

Most Post Offices are managed by independent postmasters, while others are operated by retailers such as WH Smith, Tesco, Morrisons and the Co-Op.

Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office chief executive, stated: "Post Office has been part of the everyday fabric of British life for almost 400 years. But we cannot afford to stand still. Digital technologies have transformed how we shop, transact and communicate.

"And like any modern retailer, we must evolve to meet customer demand and sell the products and services which will drive revenue for the postmasters and partners who operate our branch network.

"I look forward to working with our postmasters, partners, customers and government as we continue to transform this vital organisation, and I'm confident we will see a strong and vibrant Post Office network across the UK for decades to come."