Leak raises post office worries

A formal announcement will be made on Tuesday

Devon County Council has said it will work closely with postmasters after a list of 45 post offices in the area earmarked for closure was leaked.

The Post Office said it was unable to comment ahead of a formal announcement next Tuesday.

Rural communities in the county appear to be the hardest hit, according to the leaked report about where the axe is set to fall.

The council said it will set up a helpline for those wanting advice.

It added that it may also give some post offices money to keep running in the short term.

"We will start consulting with Parish Councils and working individually with the Postmasters of the services affected before deciding how best to respond to the consultation," said councillor Brian Berman.

"Naturally we do not want communities to be adversely affected, and this is especially the case where post offices are the only shop in those communities."

Post offices on the leaked list include those at Hennock, Offwell and Kellaton as well as ones in Plymouth, Torquay and Paignton.

'Will not speculate'

Paul Millard, from the Country Land and Business Association, said the plan was a "terrible thing" which undermined the structure of rural communities.

"We don't have a sustainable countryside without sustainable communities," he said.

The independent postal watchdog is encouraging people to join in the public consultation.

Nerina Bowdenhamer, from Postwatch, said: "It has been proven that because of public input some changes have been made to proposals and in very few cases some of these post offices closures have been withdrawn."

A Post Office spokesperson said it understood the concerns of individuals and local organisations.

"However, the formal public consultation process does not commence until Tuesday 20 May after which opinion formers, local groups and customers will be able to put forward their views and concerns," he said.

"In the meantime, we will not speculate on the detail of the plan."