58 Lancashire post offices set to close

A TOTAL of 58 post offices are set to close throughout Lancashire, the Royal Mail has announced.

The cuts involve 11 in the Preston area, including those in Acregate Lane, Longridge Road, Manchester Road, Pope Lane and Deepdale Road.

Closures have been decided by the government because the post offices are losing £4million a week.

The Government defended the decision, assessing the postal service as unsustainable in its current form, while post chiefs have said that 99.6% of people will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile by road of an alternative branch.

Head of communications at Preston City Council Stephen Parkinson admitted that 11 is "too many".

He said: "First we are very realistic and accept post offices could be rationalised or merged.
11 is too many. They provide a community service for elderly and vulnerable people who use them on a regular basis."

Mr Parkinson also pointed out that access to post offices would be difficult for people living in rural areas.

"We recognise the post offices need saving and that people do things differently now online. There is a change in how people shop and post offices have to move with the changes, but they are an important part of the community.

"If there are innovative changes then that’s what we’re looking for. Other closures happened four years ago so this is not new."

He confirmed that some of post offices’ duties will be passed into the hands of either village halls or churches, a measure that will happen in Preston’s Chipping and Calder Vale. He also suggested that pubs may have a part to play in postal duties.

Deputy leader of the Lancashire County Council Doreen Pollitt also expressed her opposition to the closures that have caused concern for Preston residents.

She said on the council website: "Post offices are an important part of our local communities and we are therefore very disappointed that the decision has been taken to go ahead with these closures."

Cllr Pollitt suggested that the fight to save Preston post offices will not be over in the near future.

"We will now look at services provided by these post offices to consider possible alternatives. This is too important an issue to rush."






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