Post Office review list confirmed

Campaigners say rural post offices are a lifeline

Twenty five post offices across Leicestershire and Rutland have been earmarked for closure.

The national network has been under review as Post Office Ltd looks to cut the number of loss-making branches.

The company said it would hold a seven- week consultation and even with the closures more than 90% of people would still have a branch within one mile.

But many villagers have said the post office should not be treated as just another business.

One of those that is in line to shut by March is Willow Brook in Humberstone.

It is so unfair. We have a long way to go Stella Barrow, post office campaigner

Regular customer Nobby Lynch said he was disgusted by the news.

"It is ridiculous closing down a post office when it is getting full every day of the week. The staff work like slaves every day till 4 or 5 every night.

"It may be losing money but the government is losing us money and we can't sack them, can we?"

Post Office campaigner Stella Barrow reckons some customers will have trouble reaching the next nearest Post Office.

"It is so unfair. We have a long way to go. Many of the people who rely on the post office will not be able to make it easily to the next one which is left."

Alternative solutions

Mark Partington, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, said: "Taking the decision to close any Post Office branch is always very difficult and we know it will cause concern to many of our customers.

"We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the proposed changes, and able to give views on them."

He added that the firm was proposing to establish seven "outreach services" which could include a mobile service, a hosted service operated within third-party premises for restricted hours each week or a service within the premises of a local partner business.

Consultation for this round of closures is due to end on 10 January 2008.

Nationally, more than 2,500 branches are expected to close because they are either not making enough money or they are within three miles of one another.

The branches to close are Arnesby, Lutterworth Road, Leicester; Higham On The Hill, Nuneaton; Station Road, Bagworth; Barkby; Cropston, Leicester; Kingsgate Avenue, Birstall; Newton Lindford, Leicester; Burton Overy, Leicester; Connaught Road, Market Harborough; Leicester Road, Wigston; Stoke Albany, Market Harborough; Gipsy Lane, Leicester; Willow Brook Road, Leicester; Walnut Street, Leicester; Francis Street, Leicester; Guthridge Crescent, Braunstone Estate, Leicester, Henley Road, Leicester; Ashby Road, Loughborough; Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough; Walton On The Wolds, Loughborough; Packington, Ashby- De-La-Zouch; Heather, Coalville; Exton, Oakham; Whissendine, Oakham; Stonesby, Melton Mowbray.