Herefordshire fights plans to slash post offices this summer

Government plans to slash the number of post offices by 2,500 over 18 months will undermine its own policy of strengthening local communities, says Herefordshire Council.

In a detailed submission to the Department of Trade and Industry, the council argues that the focus should be on integrating those post office services that are not economically viable with village shops, village halls, churches or even local pubs.

“This summer the government plans to start the fastest national post office closure programme in the history of the network”, said leader of the council Roger Phillips. “Unless Herefordshire fights its corner we will see the marginalisation and exclusion of thousands of vulnerable people, such as older people, low-income families or those without a car, who rely on their local post office. Hundreds of communities across the county, especially those in remote areas, are at stake”.

Herefordshire is predominately rural with more of its people living in very sparsely populated areas than any other county in England. It also has a higher age profile, and the number of people over 65 is forecast to increase by half in just over ten years, with the number of people over 85 forecast to grow by 79 per cent in the same period. The council argues that this growing population of frail, older people depend more than most on post office services, and their quality of life would be seriously damaged if the government gets its way.

Councillor Phillips has been lobbying government on the issue since the plans to close post offices were announced in December.

“Rather than shut down our post offices, we believe there is a wider, more active and sustainable role for them”, he said. “We would urge the government to work with local authorities and local communities and look at properly evaluated pilot projects to boost the range of services available through rural post offices, whether these are benefits administration and collection, or through increasing the number of private banks who allow their customers access to their accounts via post offices”.

In order for a community-led solution to evolve, local groups are saying that enough time has to be allowed. The government’s consultation period of six weeks is too short a timeframe to prepare these plans and instead will effectively destroy post office business, says Herefordshire Council in its submission. Twelve months would be more realistic, allowing existing post offices to remain open while a seamless transfer of the business to other outlets is managed in each community. A capital investment will sometimes be needed to adapt such community buildings to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Good examples of the transfer of services exist in Herefordshire. The post office in Pencombe moved from a private house to the community hall. By sharing resources various services became more cost-efficient. In Yarpole, a community shop and post office has in two years developed successfully into the hub of the community and is now set to expand, possibly into the parish church, developing further the multi-use concept of community buildings.

Herefordshire Council believes that all business models should be investigated to ensure the survival of postal services.

Herefordshire Council is asking parish councils and local people to write in and voice their concerns and ideas of how to improve services. In the first instance, they should write to Anthony Bush, parish liaison and rural services officer, Herefordshire Council, Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 0XH, or e-mail abush@herefordshire.gov.uk