Mixed reaction to Post Office 'outreach' trial

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Communities and also in Local Government

Plans to trial the provision of postal services in libraries, church halls or jobcentres in towns and cities across the UK met with a mixed response today.

Critics argued the proposed services would not be needed if 2,500 branches were not being closed.

The Post Office said it would rule nothing out as it looked to develop links with local businesses and communities in urban areas in an extension of the 100 so-called "outreach" outlets in rural communities which offer postal services with reduced or flexible hours, sometimes in a mobile office which travels around villages.

The Post Office said that based on the "encouraging" early experience in rural areas, it had decided to extend the trials into towns and cities.

Around 500 outreach branches are planned, but if the trials - which will last throughout this year - are successful, this number could be increased significantly.

The announcement followed continued controversy over post office closures, which will not be reduced as a result of today's development.

Government sources said up to 250 urban outreach outlets could be opened, although the Post Office said it did not have a figure in mind.

Business Secretary John Hutton said: "The future of the Post Office relies on its ability to innovate and deliver services that meet the changing needs of customers.

"This welcome trial has the potential to do just that by offering greater access to the most popular post office services in urban areas.

"This will improve the service to those customers and comes on top of 500 outlets already planned for rural pubs, churches and other centres."

Andy Furey, national officer of the Communication Workers Union, said: "John Hutton is hypocritical in his approach to postal services. He complains about the financial burden one minute but at the same time he's taking away government services which would provide the funding and footfall needed to ensure the sustainability of the network.

"If Alan Cook (Post Office managing director) was serious about developing a sustainable network he wouldn't be so zealously pursuing this damaging closure programme and would stop the sham consultations which have so far failed to represent the concerns of communities and politicians alike.

"The proposed outreach services are not a genuine alternative and they wouldn't be needed if there wasn't a planned closure programme. Having a van provide post office services for a few hours a week is a poor substitute for a permanent local office."

Shadow postal affairs minister Charles Hendry said: "We are happy that the Government has belatedly responded to our calls to explore new business opportunities for the Post Office network.

"However, it is typical of this dithering Government that they explore these opportunities after they have forced through a short-sighted, flawed and damaging closure programme, the result of which could have been fewer closures.

"This is a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted."

Liberal Democrat business spokeswoman Sarah Teather said: "Introducing a part-time 'Post Office Lite' will be of no consolation for the many towns and cities left with no proper post office by this Government.

"Making this announcement just before the local elections seems like an attempted sop to angry voters who have watched Labour decimate the Post Office since 1997.

"So called 'outreach' services should only ever be used to fill in gaps in very rural areas, rather than as an alternative for full-time post offices in towns and cities."

Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England, said: "It is a huge step in the right direction as for some time councils have been putting forward proposals to save some of their local branches.

"Many councils who have been trying to find innovative options have often been met with unhelpful stonewalling."

Alan Cook, managing director of the Post Office, said: "We are committed to maintaining and developing a sustainable network which continues to play a vital role at the heart of communities throughout the UK and we know that to do so we have to continue to look at innovative ways to run our outlets.

"We have been developing outreach services successfully for the past five years with support from Government and want to test whether this approach can be applied to more communities."

The company also announced that it will give MPs 10 days notice before the start of public consultation on proposed post office closures in their constituencies rather than a few days as at present.

Several post offices are currently being run inside Church of England, Methodist and United Reformed Churches.

Paula Griffiths, head of the Council for Cathedrals and Church Buildings, commented: "We have now published a set of guidelines for churches considering hosting a post office.

"These should help to save churches time in considering the issues, but churches should already be researching the proposed future of their local postal services and preparing to get involved in the consultation process in their community.

"In effect, if a church's offer to host a post office is accepted, they will only have around three months to bring the plans into fruition - so early planning is crucial."