Protests at loss of Post Offices

Some rural post offices provide the only access to cash in their area

Protests have begun at several post offices in Oxfordshire after a list of branches earmarked for closure was leaked last week.

The BBC learned on Friday that 22 branches could potentially close across the county.

The Post Office sent all Oxfordshire MPs a list of the proposed closures before this Tuesday's announcement.

The Post Office, which wants to close 2,500 branches nationwide, refused to comment on the leaked information.

Post office sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses have begun petitions and have been rallying the support of their MPs.

A six-week consultation will follow the official announcement before a final decision is made.

The government has said four million fewer people are using the current 14,000-strong network each week than two years ago.

Oxfordshire branches earmarked for closure Ardington Begbrook Childrey Combe Crowmarsh Dalton Barracks Farmoor Fyfield Grandpont, Oxford Grimsbury, Banbury Church Way, Iffley Villiers Road, Bicester Long Wittenhan Orchard Way, Banbury Stanmore Crescent, Carterton Stanton St John Upton West End, Witney Wolvercote, Godstow Road Wootton Wootton Road, Abingdon Wytham

Ministers say cuts are needed as the business has been losing £4m a week.

Christine Donnelly, who runs the post office in Great Milton and is secretary of Oxfordshire's Federation of Sub-Postmasters, said people must find strong arguments for keeping their local branch open.

"They won't just take people saying 'we want to keep our local post office'."

She said people must "come up with a reason why, for example, if they've mis-measured the distance to the next post office, or if they've assumed that there's a bus route that no longer runs.

"That's what Postwatch need to know about and Postwatch can then go out and fight the battle on behalf of the post offices."

On Friday Ed Vaizey, Tory MP for Wantage and Didcot, told BBC Oxford: "Obviously these are quite sweeping closures.

"I don't expect to save every post office in my constituency but I hope to make a case for each and every one and I hope the Post Office will listen with an open mind."

Evan Harris, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: "The problem with some of these closures is that it's not just the post office that's affected - sometimes it's the shop as well."

There have been several regional announcements about post office closures across the UK since 2 October.