Nearly 6,000 Post Offices are at risk of permanent closure as part of a significant restructuring plan. A recent Government consultation has highlighted that almost half of the current 11,500 Post Offices are no longer profitable, especially those operating part-time or sharing premises with other businesses.
The consultation acknowledges that the elderly population in rural areas would be most affected by these potential closures. The ongoing Future of Post Office consultation, aimed at modernizing and strengthening the postal network, is set to conclude today.
Proposed changes include redefining what constitutes a Post Office “branch,” potentially including services like “drop and collect” boxes as part of Post Office offerings. Despite these discussions, a Post Office spokesperson has clarified that there are currently no planned closures and emphasized the importance of maintaining the existing number of branches.
Most Post Offices are independently run by postmasters, with some operated by major retailers such as WH Smith, Tesco, Morrisons, and the Co-Op. The focus remains on sustaining a robust and diverse Post Office network across the UK to offer essential face-to-face services.
While considering various options for the Post Office’s future, the Department for Business prefers to maintain the current network size and structure. The Post Office is exploring additional services like pharmacy prescription collection, digital ID verification, and business advisory within its stores.
To support these initiatives, the Post Office is urging the Government to consider tailored tax relief and expand banking and parcel services to include support for small businesses. Neil Brocklehurst, the Post Office chief executive, emphasized the need to evolve and meet changing customer demands to ensure the sustainability of the branch network.
The Government initiated a green paper in July to review the Post Office’s operations, aiming to adapt to the evolving retail landscape and enhance revenue opportunities for postmasters and partners.