POST OFFICE “FACING DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS” 

Angus MP Mike Weir has condemned the continuing uncertainty over the future of the Post Office network.  Speaking after a statement by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling in the House of Commons Mr Weir said that local people were facing up to another two years of uncertainty.

“All that is clear is that the Post Office network faces death by a thousand cuts. Hundreds of Scottish sub post offices are likely to go under the present scheme yet we are still no closer to learning which local offices are under threat. “

“There have been minor changes to the access criteria which are helpful, particularly now that the economic impact on local communities must be taken into account which is something I have long called on the government to take into account. “

“There remains, however, serious concerns about how the process is to be managed. The idea that it would be decided on the basis of groups of around ten parliamentary constituencies makes absolutely no sense in Scotland since such a grouping could cover very large parts of the country.”

“The time scale for consultation is far too short. A local community will only have a period of six weeks to mount a campaign to save any threatened office which will make it near impossible, especially if announcements are made near holiday times. All communities in Angus should watch carefully any announcements made by the Post Office.”

“Although it has been made clear that the DD9 postcode area, which is basically the Brechin area, will not face compulsory closures under the present programme all other areas of Angus could face closures. Even in the Brechin area it is not entirely clear what service would be offered if a post office closes for other reasons.    

Mr Weir reiterated his call for a strategic overview of the whole post office network.

“Past haphazard closures have resulted in the current unbalanced network and what is needed is for an overall view which may well include opening new offices and not just closures. Whilst the changes in the access criteria gives some scope for new offices in some areas it is not sufficient to repair the past damage.”