23rd October 2007
Post Office proposes closure of 44 Scottish branches
Forty-four Post Office branches have been earmarked for closure in Scotland, the company has announced.
Proposals published today as part of the company's Network Change programme affect the provision of services in Greater Glasgow, Central Scotland and Argyll & Bute. Under the plans, 264 existing branches would remain open and 44 would close. Three communities in rural Stirlingshire would be served by an "outreach" service, which could include a mobile Post Office or one hosted in a shop or other premises.
Post Office claims that, under the proposals, 99.9% of the areas' populations would see either no change to their service, or would remain within one mile of an alternative branch.
Scottish network development manager Sally Buchanan said: "Post Office Ltd’s aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the very strict minimum access criteria set by the UK government."
The company stressed that it had "made these proposals after engaging with and taking input from the independent consumer watchdog on postal services, Postwatch, and from local authorities". It is inviting views on the proposals in a six-week consultation that remains open until 3 December.
Meanwhile, the Communication Workers Union has endorsed an agreement with Royal Mail that may signal the end of recent strike action by postal workers. The agreement, which offers workers an initial pay increase of 5.4%, will be put to a ballot of the union's 130,000 postal workers.
Proposals published today as part of the company's Network Change programme affect the provision of services in Greater Glasgow, Central Scotland and Argyll & Bute. Under the plans, 264 existing branches would remain open and 44 would close. Three communities in rural Stirlingshire would be served by an "outreach" service, which could include a mobile Post Office or one hosted in a shop or other premises.
Post Office claims that, under the proposals, 99.9% of the areas' populations would see either no change to their service, or would remain within one mile of an alternative branch.
Scottish network development manager Sally Buchanan said: "Post Office Ltd’s aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the very strict minimum access criteria set by the UK government."
The company stressed that it had "made these proposals after engaging with and taking input from the independent consumer watchdog on postal services, Postwatch, and from local authorities". It is inviting views on the proposals in a six-week consultation that remains open until 3 December.
Meanwhile, the Communication Workers Union has endorsed an agreement with Royal Mail that may signal the end of recent strike action by postal workers. The agreement, which offers workers an initial pay increase of 5.4%, will be put to a ballot of the union's 130,000 postal workers.
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