Union warns that service is likely to suffer if Maidenhead Post Office closes

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Customer service will suffer if the Post Office in Maidenhead High Street closes, a spokesman for the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has warned.

Chris Roche, southern territorial representative for the union, was speaking after last month’s announcement that the Maidenhead store was among 42 directly-run Crown post offices whose future is up for consultation.

A search is now underway for a franchise partner to take over the running of the branch and is expected to conclude at the end of the month.

Following that, a report will be prepared for a public consultation, ahead of a final decision being made, leaving staff and customers in limbo until then.

As yet, the Post Office has not commented on any potential partners, except to say it is still advertising, or how long it expects the full process to take.

Neither has it commented on whether the Maidenhead branch is run at a profit or a loss.

Speaking about the process, Mr Roche, who is also representing staff at 10 other post offices in relation to this, said: “Our position is that we oppose any kind of franchising.

“There’s 314 Crown branches nationally and they were making a loss a few years ago and were charged by the last government to break even – which they achieved last autumn.

“But the Post Office have since taken the decision that every Crown branch has to make a profit, which is why they’re franchising.
“But we don’t see the necessity of this, so long as the Crown estate as a whole isn’t costing the taxpayer.

“The effect of the franchising will be to lose the experienced staff of these branches, which will then move to the back of a chop and we know that all customers do not necessarily move to the new premise