Glasgow City Council weighs up options to save Post Offices

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

Glasgow City Council is to carry out a feasibility study into options for saving some of the 21 Post Offices earmarked for closure in the city.

The Council’s Executive Committee has agreed to authorise Development and Regeneration Services to conduct carry out the work.

Officers will determine whether there are any options available which would allow the Council to pro-actively intervene to ensure a continuation of Post Office services in any of the affected areas of the city.

Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of the Council, said: "These closures are a very serious problem for some people. Development and Regeneration Services will examine the options to see what we can do.

"For example, we are investigating whether Council Tax pay points can also offer some post office services or can we simply take over post offices where they currently exist."

Another option to be looked at is using community hubs to deliver a range of services.

Councillor Purcell said: "This could mean going to a library and also being able to pay your Council Tax or other council bills and have Post Office services on site.”

He added: “There are specific parts of the city where there is a pressing need to have a reasonable post office service. We want to examine that as a priority.

"We have to look at areas where there is a high concentration of elderly people, young families, or people without access to a car. Local post offices are very important to them.

"I understand the financial pressures the network is under and I do not want to put any added burden on Glasgow taxpayers.

"That is why we have to be innovative about using existing council establishments and developing new co-location centres in the areas affected.

"We want to ensure we can tackle this problem wherever there is social and economic case for retention of a local post office, but also where there is a financial case that is robust and does not impact on taxpayers.

"I am confident we can find some solution."

The findings will be sent to Pat McFadden, the Minister for Postal Affairs. They will also be sent out for public consultation.