Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network - Post Office Ltd announces plans for Devon

20/05/2008

Post Office Ltd today opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for Devon. In line with the criteria and factors set by the Government in its Response document, DTI The Post Office Network, Government response to public consultation May 2007 www.dti.gov.uk/consultations the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office® services through a network of 333 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 45 existing branches.

Under the proposals, more than 99% of the area’s population will either see no change to their nearest branch, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

Of the 333 branches which are proposed to remain in Devon, Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish 38 as outreach services, which would use innovative ways to continue to provide Post Office services - particularly in smaller communities - where the existing branch is proposed for closure.

Possible types of outreach service in Devon could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within third party premises for restricted hours each week, a partner service within the premises of a local partner (such as a pub landlord) or a Home Service were services are ordered in advance for delivery direct to the customer at home.

Post Office Ltd propose the withdrawal of the current Devon and Cornwall Mobile Post Office that operates from Tavistock and serves 19 communities in both counties. As a result of insufficient customer usage, the proposal is to replace 11 of the mobile visits with ‘home’ outreach services and cease eight others. As the facility serves communities in Devon and Cornwall, the changes proposed for the Cornish communities will be subject to consultation in the Area Plan Proposal for Cornwall, which begins in July. The final decision on the proposed changes for the Devon communities served by this Mobile service will be taken after consultation on the Cornish element of the proposals has concluded.

The detailed Area Plan proposal for Devon is now available. To obtain a copy visit www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or write to Post Office Ltd at Freepost Consultation (no stamp required), or email consultation@postoffice.co.uk Post Office Ltd is now seeking views on the proposed future service provision in the area, including in particular views on access to Post Office® services, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure and the appropriate form of outreach service to be provided. Consultation is due to end on 30 June 2008.

The Government has already undertaken a 12 week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK wide network of Post Office branches by up to 2,500 from its current level of over 14,000, while continuing to provide funding to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government

Tim Nickolls, Post Office Ltd’s Network Development Manager for Devon, said, "Taking the decision to close any Post Office branch is always very difficult and we know 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.

"Post Office Ltd must reduce the number of branches. The purpose of this public consultation is to ensure that we have the best available local knowledge to allow us to make the most informed decisions about which branches should close or be replaced by an outreach service.

"Post Office Ltd’s aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the minimum access criteria set by the Government. Rural parts of the area - where 54% of the population live - would be served by a total of 248 branches, 96 of which provide the only access to cash in their communities. Urban areas would be served by 85 branches including 10 Crown Post Offices. A total of 15 branches will specifically serve communities defined as deprived, supporting the Government’s focus on the provision of services in these locations.


"We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for Post Office services in Devon, bearing in mind the minimum access criteria and the other factors to which we have to have regard."

Under the Area Plan Proposals, almost 92% of the area’s population will see no change at all to their nearest branch. A further 7.5 % live less than one mile, by road distance, from the nearest alternative branch, with 3.6% within half a mile.

Post Office Ltd has reached these proposals after engaging with and taking input from the independent consumer watchdog on postal services, Postwatch, and from all local authorities within the area, and has considered factors relating to geography, the availability of local transport and alternative access to key Post Office® services, local demographics and the impact on local economies. Views on all these factors are welcomed during the consultation process.

Ends

Issued by Post Office Ltd
Birmingham Mail Centre
St Stephens Street
BIRMINGHAM
B6 4AA

Notes to Editors

Post Office branches in the following parliamentary constituencies are included in the Devon plan:

East Devon, Exeter, North Devon, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon
Plymouth, Devonport, Plymouth, Sutton, South West Devon, Tiverton and Honiton,
Torbay, Totnes.


The Government criteria:

Nationally:

• 99% of the UK population to be within 3 miles and 90% of the population to be within 1 mile of their nearest Post Office® branch.

• 99% of the total population in deprived urban areas across the UK to be within 1 mile of their nearest Post Office® branch.

• 95% of the total urban population across the UK to be within 1 mile of their nearest Post Office® branch.

• 95% of the total rural population across the UK to be within 3 miles of their nearest Post Office® branch.


In addition, for each individual postcode district:

• 95% of the population of the postcode district to be within 6 miles of their nearest Post Office® branch.

The following 45 Post Office branches are proposed for closure as part of the Devon plan:
Avonwick, The Shop, Avonwick, South Brent TQ10 9LZ
Barbrook, Lynton EX35 6PD
Beaumont Road, 124 Beaumont Road, Plymouth PL4 9EB
Bishops Tawton, East Street, Bishops Tawton, Barnstaple EX32 0DQ
Buckland Monachorum (mobile service), Outside Village Hall, Buckland Monachorum,Yelverton PL20 7EQ
Chelston, 24 Walnut Road, Torquay TQ2 6HS
Clyst St George, The Village Hall, Clyst St George, Exeter EX3 0RE
Collaton St Mary, 369 Totnes Road, Paignton TQ4 7DE
East Of The Water, Barnstaple Street, Bideford EX39 4AE
Ermington, The Square, Ermington, Ivybridge PL21 9LP
Exeter Road, Crediton EX17 3BH
Ford Street, 14 Ford Street, Tavistock PL19 8DZ
Foxhayes, 123 Exwick Road, Exwick, Exeter EX4 2BH
Goodleigh, Barnstaple EX32 7LU
Greenway Lane, 30 Greenway Lane, Budleigh Salterton EX9 6SG
Hennock, The Post Office, Newton Abbot TQ13 9PZ
High Street, 101 High Street, Totnes TQ9 5PF
Holcombe, Hollandia, Holcombe Road, Dawlish EX7 0LH
Kellaton, Kingsbridge TQ7 2ES
Lynmouth (Temporarily closed), Lynmouth Street, Lynton EX35 6EH
Millwey Rise, 22-23 First Avenue, Axminster EX13 5EX
Milton Combe (mobile service), Outside the Pub, Milton Combe, Yelverton PL20 6HP
Offwell ,The Village Shop & PO, The Recreation Ground, Offwell, Honiton EX14 9SB
Pennycomequick, 9 Stuart Road, Plymouth PL3 4EB
Peter Tavy (mobile service), Bus Shelter, Peter Tavy, Tavistock PL19 9NN
Pinhoe Road, 171 Pinhoe Road, Exeter EX4 7HZ
Plympton, St Maurice Brook Stores, 19 St Maurice Road, Plympton St Maurice, Plymouth PL7 1NR
Portland Street, Portland Street, Ilfracombe EX34 9NN
Queen St, 37-39 Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3SR
Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton EX20 2SY
Seaside, Combe Martin, Ilfracombe EX34 0DQ
St Andrews Road, 42 St Andrews Road, Exmouth EX8 1AR
St Levan Valley, 43 Ryder Road, Plymouth PL2 1JA
Stoke In Teignhead, (Temporarily closed), Newton Abbot TQ12 4QA
Stone Barton (Temporarily closed), 1B Seymour Road, Plympton, Plymouth PL7 4NX
Sutcombe, 4 Square Park, Holsworthy EX22 7PS
The Harbour, 41 Roundham Road, Paignton TQ4 6DS
Tipton St John, Sidmouth EX10 0AA
Torre, 298 Union Street, Torquay TQ2 5QZ
Townstal, 21 Church Road, Dartmouth TQ6 9HQ
Tweenaway (Temporarily closed), 238 Totnes Road, Paignton TQ4 7HB
Underwood, 46 Market Road, Plymouth PL7 1QW
Union Road (Temporarily closed), 38 Victoria Street, Exeter EX4 6JQ
West Charleton, West Charleton, Kingsbridge TQ7 2AJ
West Hoe, 24 Walker Terrace, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3BN

The following 38 Post Office Branches are proposed for replacement by an outreach solution:
Ashreigney, 1 Green Hedges, Ashreigney, Chulmleigh EX18 7LT
Ashwater, Beaworthy EX21 5EG
Bishops Nympton., South Molton EX36 4PQ
Blackawton, Vicarage Road, Blackawton, Totnes TQ9 7AY
Bow (Temporarily closed), Spar Shop, Preston House, Bow, Crediton EX17 6EZ
Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple EX31 4TJ
Bridestowe, Okehampton EX20 4EG
Bridgerule, Holsworthy EX22 7ER
Buckland Brewer, Bideford EX39 5LW
Burrington, London House, Burrington, Umberleigh EX37 9JG
Cheriton Fitzpaine, Crediton EX17 4JA
Chillaton, Lifton PL16 0HR
Chittlehamholt, Umberleigh EX37 9NT
Clearbrook (mobile service), Outside Village Hall, Clearbrook , Yelverton PL20 6JD
Clovelly, 23 High Street, Clovelly, Bideford EX39 5TB
Copplestone, Crediton EX17 5NJ
Dittisham, Riverside Road, Dittisham, Dartmouth TQ6 0HS
Halberton, 24 High Street, Halberton, Tiverton EX16 7AA
Kennerleigh, The Post Office, Crediton EX17 4RS
Lamerton (mobile service), 2 stopping points in Lamerton, Tavistock PL19
Langtree, Fore Street, Langtree, Torrington EX38 8NG
Lewdown, The Stores, Lewdown, Okehampton EX20 4DQ
Lustleigh, Newton Abbot TQ13 9TA
Meeth, Okehampton EX20 3EP
Milton Abbot, Fore Street, Milton Abbot, Tavistock PL19 0PA
Newton St Cyres, 6 The Village, Newton St Cyres, Exeter EX5 5BU
Northlew, Post Office Stores, Northlew, Okehampton EX20 3PB
Oakford, Tiverton EX16 9EW
Plymtree, Cullompton EX15 2JU
Postbridge, The Post Office, Yelverton PL20 6TH
Rackenford, Post Office & Village Shop, Rackenford, Tiverton EX16 8DT
Rattery, South Brent TQ10 9LD
Shebbear, Southview, Shebbear, Beaworthy EX21 5RU
St Giles On The Heath, Gridley Corner, St Giles on the Heath, Launceston PL15 9SA
West Buckland, Barnstaple EX32 0SF
West Down, Ilfracombe EX34 8NF
Widecombe In The Moor, Newton Abbot TQ13 7TB
Yeoford, Station Road, Yeoford, Crediton EX17 5HU

A full list of the 333 branches which would serve the area under these proposals is available upon request.

The public consultation period for Devon begins on 20 May and all representations should be received by 30 June 2008.

To express your views write to Tim Nickolls, Network Development Manager
C/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Or email to: consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call the Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44

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