Post Office set to shut branches

The Post Office has identified 26 of its branches in Cambridgeshire which are expected to close or be replaced with a reduced service.

The Post Office said the cutbacks were necessary to make the service sustainable and most people would still be within a mile of a post office.

The move is part of wider proposals to reduce the number of branches nationwide by up to 2,500.

A public consultation on the proposed closures now begin.

The Post Office's four outreach options are mobile facilities; premises offering a restricted hours service; home delivery and a so-called hosted service where a designated person in the community offers a range of Post Office services.

The full list of proposed closures, with details of the outreach services in brackets, are:

• Regent Street
• Trumpington Street
• St John's Post Office, Hills Road
• Great Stukeley, Church Road
• Catworth, High Street (mobile service, five hours a week)
• Great Gransden, Fox Street (partnership with retailer, same location)
• Great Gidding, Main Street (mobile service, eight hours a week)
• Holme, Station Road (mobile service, eight hours a week)
• Ramsey St Mary, High Street (partnership with retailer, same location)
• Earith, High Street (partnership at Riverview Hotel)
• Grantchester, Stulpfield Road
• Fen Drayton, High Street
• Impington, Station Road
• Arrington, Hardwick Arms, Ermine Way (hosted outreach service at same location, two hours a week)
• Elsworth, The Causeway (hosted outreach at Sport Club, five hours a week)
• Over, High Street (mobile service, 15 hours a week)
• Soham, Hall Street
• Ely, St John's Road
• Little Downham, Main Street (mobile service, 15 hours a week)
• Wisbech, Harecroft Road
• March, St Peter's Road
• Christchurch, Church Road (mobile service, five hours a week)
• Benwick, High Street (hosted outreach at Five Alls pub, three hours a week)
• Woodston, Oundle Road
• New England, Lincoln Road
• West Town, Mayors Walk

Dr Charles Winstanley, Chair of Postwatch East, said: "Postwatch accepts the rationale for change.

"It is important that this happens in a way that minimises customer inconvenience and confusion."

Customers have until 26 August 2008 to study the proposals and and give their views to Post Office Ltd.

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