Criticism of post office closures

A local authority has revealed in a newly-published report the "damaging impact" which post office closures would have in South Yorkshire.

Sheffield City Council criticised the decision to close 16 branches across the area in a formal report to Post Office officials.

The council said 20% of Sheffield's neighbourhoods would be without a post office if the closures went ahead.

In August, Post Office Ltd announced the closures in a restructuring move.

Reconsider closures

But the council has criticised the plans and said they would have a negative impact on the community.

Issues included difficulty for people getting to a branch not accessible by public transport and problems for businesses and older residents, the report said.

Councillor David Baker, deputy leader of Sheffield City Council, said: "It is not obvious what criteria Post Office Limited has used to reach its decisions on which post offices are to close.

"It's like they have just stuck random pins in a map.

"You only have to visit Sheffield to see how hilly the city is, so closing a post office and suggesting someone visits another one a mile or two away isn't as simple as it sounds."

The council is now asking the Post Office to reconsider closures in Sheffield.