Post Office Ltd to face the public over closures

Post Office Ltd has accepted Diana Johnson MP's invitation to meet local people over their proposed closure of two Hull North post offices.

The meeting will take place at 7pm on Friday 2 November at St Vincent's RC Primary School, Queens Road, Hull HU5 2QR.

This public meeting will provide an opportunity for those in the areas affected by Post Office Ltd's proposed closure of branches to ask questions and give their views directly to a representative from Post Office Ltd.

Post Office Ltd recently launched a consultation period, concluding on 12 November, under its 'Network Change Programme'. This could result in two Hull North post office branches, at 504 Beverley Road and 75 Princes Avenue, closing from January 2008.

The Government is providing £1.7 billion in funding for the post office branch network up to 2011. The losses of Post Office Ltd ran at £4 million per week last year. Without this Government subsidy there would be only 4,000 post office branches across the country, compared to the 14,300 branches currently open and the 12,000 branches in the plans being put forward by Post Office Ltd.

Diana Johnson MP said: "Post Office Ltd makes the final decisions on its post office branch network - not MPs or the Government. It is therefore vital that Post Office Ltd hears the views of local people living and working in the areas of Hull North most affected by their proposals.

"To my knowledge, the meeting that I have organised for 2 November is the only chance for Hull North people to put questions directly to Post Office Ltd during their consultation period up to 12 November.

"Post Office Ltd faces tough decisions about their branch network due to the commercial pressures caused by falling customer usage, EU rules and new technology. This is despite the fact that the Government is providing £1.7 billion of taxpayers' money to support the branch network. Without this Labour Government subsidy only 4,000 branches - rather than the current 14,300 - would be viable across the country.

"However, Post Office Ltd must justify their specific local closure plans. Many local people, including pensioners living in the affected areas, are concerned about what the closure of local post office branches in Beverley Road and Princes Avenue will mean for their access to post office services.

"I will be meeting Post Office Ltd to express my concern about their plans in Hull North and to explore constructive ideas on how people can continue having access locally to services currently provided in post offices.

"I urge any local people worried about these proposals to take part in the official Post Office Ltd consultation before the 12 November deadline. People can also sign my petition supporting the post office network as a key public service on which many local people rely. This can be done through my website at www.dianajohnson.co.uk or by ringing my office on 01482 319135."