Post office review a step closer

The public consultation ended at the start of September

Cornwall County Council has moved a step closer to securing a judicial review into the legality of plans to close 62 post offices in the county.

A hearing at the High Court in London has been arranged for for a judge to decide whether a review can go ahead.

The judge will also consider a request for "interim relief" which would prevent any branches being closed until the claim had been determined.

A public consultation on the closures ended at the start of September.

A statement from Cornwall County Council said: "The [administrative court] judge has considered the application and determined that the issues regarding interim relief should be heard in court during the week commencing 29 September 2008.

Outreach services

"Following that hearing it is envisaged the county council will be advised whether it has permission to judicially review the Royal Mail Group and Post Office Limited."

The council's lawyers have advised that there were "serious flaws" in Post Office Ltd's public consultation process which rendered it unfair.

A spokeswoman for Post Office Ltd said the results of the public consultation were now being considered and a final decision on closures could be expected in a few weeks.

In a statement the organisation said: "Post Office Ltd is implementing the Government's decision to close 2,500 branches as sensitively as possible".

Forty nine branches are earmarked for closure in Cornwall, with another 13 scheduled to be replaced by mobile outreach services.