WHILE I know no one wants to see post offices closing, it is clear that, as a society, we are using them a lot less as more services become available online.
There are now about four million fewer customers a week compared to a few years ago and the network is losing £500,000 every single day. In fact, if it wasn't for Government subsidies, thousands more branches would be under threat.
In Tyne and W
ear with Northumberland and Durham, 1.7 million customers are currently served by 420 branches. Our proposal is to close 57, to replace a further 24 with an Outreach service and introduce extra services in postcode district NE19 – retaining a total of 364 branches.
Under this proposal, 93.2 per cent of the population will see no change to the branch they use and 99.5 per cent remain within one mile, by road, of an alternative outlet.
The future for the post office network cannot be about turning the clock back and wishing away the changes in technology and communications that have taken place in recent years.
It must be about developing new products and services and about ensuring the viability of the network, which remains after the current closures.
Pat McFadden,
Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs.
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