Post Office rescue plans debated

The government plans to close 2,500 Post Office branches nationally

Councils, campaigners and industry officials are holding a summit later to come up with ways to save post offices threatened with closure.

On the table will be proposals to reopen branches within council-owned buildings like schools and libraries.

Essex County Council has already set aside £1.5m in the hope of saving 15 of its 31 threatened post offices.

The government says it supports efforts to save branches, provided they are based on viable business plans.

A government programme is under way to shut 2,500 post offices, as the existing network is said to be unsustainable. Ministers say it would reduce weekly losses of £4m.

But the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, says post offices are vital to communities across Britain, and in particular, provide a lifeline to vulnerable and elderly people.

It is staging the conference in London to examine ways of saving some of the post offices earmarked for closure.

Relocating branches

Essex County Council is reaching the end of negotiations over its rescue plan.

"We think we are very close to making an announcement and we are very positive about what has been happening," said a council spokesman.

If approved, some branches in the county could remain in their existing buildings while others could move to council buildings like libraries, schools and sports centres in a bid to cut costs.

The BBC's local government correspondent John Andrew said as many as 50 other councils were thinking of following Essex's lead.

A Post Office spokesman said: "The Post Office continues to have constructive talks with a number of local authorities and other bodies interested in supporting local branches as we want to run the best and most accessible network for all our customers within the available government funding."

Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, will speak at the conference.