Council seeks post office review

The council has requested a response by 20 August

The first stage of a judicial review of the legality of plans to close 62 post offices in Cornwall has been started by the county council.

It is calling on post office bosses to abandon the consultation exercise on closures currently being held.

Councillors voted unanimously to seek a a review at their last meeting in July.

The council said its lawyers have advised it that there are "serious flaws" in the consultation process which render it unfair.

Adam Paynter, deputy leader of Cornwall County Council, said: "The law states that consultation exercises must be fair.

"We are arguing that the Post Office's consultation document for Cornwall is both flawed and materially misleading.

"It contains a number of major errors, such as the wrong population figures for the county and including the Isles of Scilly and Dartmoor in the Cornwall plan."

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The council has written to the Post Office asking them to abandon the current consultation exercise and to abstain from making any decision to close any branches in the county until a "fair and lawful" consultation exercise has been carried out.

The council has also asked for documents concerning the alleged decision to link the closure of branches in Dorset with the closure of branches in Cornwall to be produced.

It has also asked for a list of "reserve" branches which may be closed in place of some already earmarked for closure.

The council has requested a response from Post Office Limited by 1600 BST on 20 August.

A final decision on post office closures in Cornwall is currently expected in September.

We will respond to the council directly in due course Post Office Ltd

The Post Office said it was implementing government policy as sensitively as possible.

In a statment to BBC News it said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.

"We consider very carefully all the comments made and factors raised during public consultations, including the needs of our vulnerable customers.

"We will respond to the council directly in due course."

A spokesperson added: "The public consultation runs until 1 September and we will be happy to take people's comments on board until that date."