City council extremely disappointed at post office closures

Manchester City Council is extremely disappointed, following today’s announcement that five post offices around Manchester will close as part of the national Post Office Network Change Programme.

The closures have been announced despite strong representations from the City Council made during a six week consultation period. A report produced by the Council outlined the importance of each of the five local post offices which Post Office Limited earmarked for closure in its 10 June announcement and at the people who would be affected by its closure. It considered how difficult it will be for customers to access alternative post offices as well as the capacity of these post offices to absorb additional customers when they already have queues at peak times.

Councillor Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We are very disappointed at the news that five of the city's 63 post offices are to close. Post offices are vital and underpin our neighbourhood centres. They provide an essential service to our communities, local businesses and local economy and we recognise that these closures will cause considerable disruption. However, we are considering a number of options to help support a sustainable post office network. We are in discussions with the Local Government Assocation, who are themselves in talks with ministers, and we are also following developments in Essex closely where negotiations between the Council and Post Office Limited about retaining post offices are most advanced."

A detailed report was originally submitted by the City Council to Post Office Limited in February this year to demonstrate how post offices support our neighbourhoods. The report also detailed the impact that post office closures would have on local communities explaining the social and economic contribution which urban post offices make. It provided strong evidence that showed the significant knock-on impacts of post office closures for local businesses, service providers (such as schools), community groups, the local economy, and for local people - particularly the most vulnerable. The loss of a post office can trigger a downward cycle in urban areas.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Fiona Smith, Press Office, tel: 0161 234 3237