A thousand post offices closed or were put up for sale

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More than 1,000 post offices have shut or been put up for sale in the past 12 months, research reveals today.

There was a ‘growing trend’ of closures in 2010, according to the Communication Workers Union, which warned that the situation would get worse if the Government presses ahead with controversial plans to privatise Royal Mail.

A study by the union showed that many closures do not appear on official lists because they are labeled as ‘temporary’.

Some 162 post offices were listed as ‘long-term temporary closures’ this year and more than 900 were put up for sale.

The union said many are likely to stay closed indefinitely and those that do re-open are liable to provide a diminished service, such as an outreach van, with no provision of financial services.

The CWU said almost ten per cent of the entire network was up for sale.

Many sub-postmasters are retiring or leaving the business because of the low levels of revenue generated in sub-offices, and in many cases it is difficult to find alternative premises or service providers, according to the CWU.

General secretary Billy Hayes said: ‘Post offices have been closing at an alarming rate this year, but didn’t register because they are misleadingly classed as temporary closures.

‘We’re seriously concerned about empty Government rhetoric on avoiding post office closures.

‘These promises are contradicted by the Government taking business away from the Post Office and by the planned privatisation of Royal Mail.’

Mr Hayes added: ‘Who’s going to buy a business which stands to lose a substantial part of its income?’

Ministers have pledged there will be no repeat of the closure programme seen under the previous Labour government, arguing that the plan to privatise Royal Mail will safeguard the branch network.

A Department for Business spokesman said: ‘This is scaremongering from the CWU. The reality is that at least 200 branches change hands every quarter.’

A Post Office spokesman said: ‘The Government has already said there is no programme of closures.

‘The figures quoted by the CWU simply reflect the number of temporary closures and the number of branches that change hands. The important thing to remember is that the majority of branches re-open when there is a temporary closure.

‘In fact, more than 200 branches change hands every three months and historically up to ten per cent of the network of more than 11,500 branches will change ownership annually.’

[Lounge Lizard]

Just look on http://www.humberstones.co.uk/search-results.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; under 'Post Offices' and you're sure to find one near you up for sale.

[barbario]

When we are privatised,despite what is being said,i bet it will be thousands more to go.