Half of Sussex post offices face the chop

From the The Argus, first published Thursday 22nd Mar 2007.

The postal service in Sussex could be decimated by a Government cull which would see half of all post office branches in the county closed.

Ministers are due to announce next week exactly how many branches in Sussex and across Britain will close as part of sweeping cut backs.

But MPs predicted yesterday that, based on face-to-face conversations they have had with subpostmasters in their constituencies, half of the 345 branches in the county will close.

It is more than double the 62 branches which a Commons Select Committee previously estimated could close.

Hastings and Rye MP Greg Barker said: "Five have already gone in my constituency and a further seven will go if these proposals go through.

"The Government is imposing a sentence first and delivering a verdict later. Post offices should be given more time to adapt to new business plans."

Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert said: "I remain incredibly worried about this whole proposal."

Nationally, Secretary of State Alastair Darling is expected to reveal that up to 2,500 out of the network of 12,000 branches will go.

Martin Ellison, branch secretary of the Federation of Subpostmasters and a postmaster at a branch in Islingword Road, Brighton, said: "We are all very anxious at the moment.

"It is a very worrying time for postmasters and for the public."

The Government's decision has led to widespread condemnation among customers, subpostmasters, councillors and MPs, rural campaigners and pensioners' groups who are rallying in support of post offices.

Councillors in Worthing have told the Department for Trade and Industry in its consultation that it is ignoring the needs of ordinary people.

Worthing borough councillor Michael Donin said: "Residents have told us of their concerns about the way the post office network has been allowed to crumble.

"It seems as though the Government wants to wash its hands of post offices."

They are by no means the most vocal however.

Campaigns and demonstrations have been held across Sussex during the last twelve months, culminating in the largest ever publicly collated petition - signed by three million people - being presented to Downing Street earlier this month.

The Department of Trade and Industry's consultation on the future of the post office network finished earlier this month.

It said post offices played an important role in the communities they served but new technology, changing lifestyles and a wider choice in how services were delivered meant people were visiting them less.

Last year, Post Office Ltd's losses rose to almost £4 million a week and the Government said this could not continue.

Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames was of those in Sussex by saying he fears up to half the 26 post offices in his constituency will be possible targets for closure.

He said: "The Government needs to realise that post offices are as much about people as stamps, parcels, benefits and licences.

"If they would get a hand of that we would be able to achieve a balanced and coherent service that represents the real interests of a diverse community who really need these offices.

"Post offices make a vital contribution to community life and we will defend them in Mid Sussex."

The figure of how many stores should shut was worked out using Government guidelines about how many post offices are needed to serve people in rural and urban areas.

Post offices in the countryside, as well as places with more than one branch, are at the most risk.

Mr Soames said post offices were often a social hub of communities and should not just be seen in terms of financial success.

Independent watchdog Postwatch said it would be difficult to guess how many post offices were threatened in Sussex.

The branches earmarked for closure will probably be named in June and start shutting in June or July.

The Government says nationally 99 per cent of people should live within three miles of a post office and 90 per cent within a mile.

In rural areas, 95 per cent of the total rural population should be within three miles of a post office.

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