WIREDGOV

We've given written evidence to the BERR Committee as part of its inquiry into the early experiences of the current Post Office ‘Network Change Programme’ for restructuring the post office network.

The programme involves the closure of 2,500 offices throughout the U.K. but with the installation of 500 ‘outreach’ points. The consultation is being rolled out through a series of more than 40 area plans over the period October 2007 to August 2008.

Our evidence concentrates on:

• the ongoing local public consultation process and the requirement for community involvement in deciding the form and location of outreach provision and the importance of allowing adequate time for this process

• the need to safeguard post offices in villages where these are combined with the sole remaining shop

• a concern that the Government’s access criteria may not give adequate consideration to social and economic factors in addition to purely distance from the nearest office

• specific needs of home-based workers and self-employed in rural areas
  

More about our work on Post Offices in Rural Areas

We're also funding Rural Service Support to help provide national and local organisations with on-line access to experts who can help them plan for the future and identify alternative ways of providing services for their communities..