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The Government's announcement on the post office network |
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Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said:
“At last the Government has woken up to the problem of post offices.
A commitment to continue the annual subsidy is good news and will help
to prevent some post office closures. But much more thought must be
given to developing a sustainable long-term strategy which will enable
the post office network to flourish.
“By attempting to restructure the network in just 18 months and
allowing the Post Office to determine which branches are to close, the
views of local people risks being ignored. Post offices provide not
only postal services but access to cash and benefits, information and
advice, and a social focus for the community. If a stand alone post
office is no longer financially viable, there should be a thorough
consultation with all who use and depend on its services in order to
find a workable alternative.
“We’re pleased that the Government is committed to a Post Office
Card Account (POCA) alternative. There is strong support for post
office based accounts and many pensioners would be devastated if this
choice was taken away from them. “
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Age Concern’s Stamped Out? report on the issue of rural post offices
was launched in September for a copy of the report please visit: www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/stamped_out.asp
FACT FILE
- Age Concern research shows that 99% of older people in rural areas consider their local post office to be a lifeline
- The proportion of over 65s living in rural areas is growing
- There are around 8,037, post offices in rural areas (defined as those with populations of less than 10,000)
- In 2004/05, 144 rural branches closed
- Only 4% of villages have a bank, compared to 60% with a post office
(Fifth annual report on the Network of Post Offices 2004-05, Postcomm)
- In rural areas, post offices without a retail business continued to close at a high rate
56% of branches in communities were re-opened within 6 months of the original closure
- 90% of the rural network makes a loss. But rural post offices with over 2,000 customers per week make a profit
- One third of rural householders find it difficult to get to a post office after their local branch is closed
www.ageconcern.org.uk
14th December 2006
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