As prospect of further closures is raised in Government's consultation document

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, urged the government to call a halt to the closure of local Post Offices in the capital. The Mayor's proposals were contained in his response to the Government’s Post Office Network consultation.

The Department for Trade and Industry’s Post Office Network Consultation opened at the end of last. The consultation document raised the prospect of thousands of Post Offices closing saying, ‘We will provide support for a restructuring of the network with up to 2500 closures within that framework which will maintain a national network.’

In his response to the Department for Trade and Industry, the Mayor drew attention to the disproportionate effect of previous Post Office closures on the capital, the vital role of Post Offices for London’s local economy and communities and the real impact of cuts on local communities and millions Londoners.

The Mayor also outlined his opposition to Government proposals to downgrade current safeguards on access to Post Offices. Currently, there must be a Post Office within half a mile of 90% of Londoners. The Government want to change this minimum distance to one mile.

Ken Livingstone said, “The number of Post Offices in London has fallen by over a quarter in just three years from 1169 to 850. These closures have had a severe impact on local communities for many of whom the Post Office is a vital local amenity. The suggestion that up to 2500 more Post Offices may close, with hundreds of these in London is simply unacceptable.

"Post Offices are vital for many local economies. Research has shown that closing post offices can lead to a cycle of economic decline in deprived urban areas. Communities in inner London boroughs and the outer suburbs, all rely on local Post Offices."

March 16, 2007