Oxfordshire: Urban post offices 'also under threat'

Urban post offices are under threat as well as their rural counterparts, an Oxford sub-postmaster has warned - reports the Oxford Times.

Dozens of sub-postmasters across the county were left wondering if their businesses had a future after the Government said 2,500 of the country's 14,000 post offices would have to close.

The Government confirmed proposals announced last December for 2,500 branches - 18% of the total - to shut.

In Oxfordshire, that could mean about 30 of the 180 post offices in the county shutting. A list of which will have to close has not been issued.

Christine Donnelly, the secretary of the Oxford and District branch of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, who runs Great Milton Post Office, said more rural post offices were likely to close than urban ones, but there could be closures in urban areas as well.

But Jan Sanderson, who runs the Elms Parade post office in Botley, said: "Urban post offices are suffering just as much because the Government has repeatedly diverted business elsewhere.

Her husband John, 60, added: "We do not get any rural subsidy like the branches out in the country but we still have to find rent and rates. It's getting harder all the time."

Pakeera Rathan, 32, who runs the post office and Costcutter shop in Old Marston Road, is another sub-postmaster who fears for the future of his branch.

He said earlier that the branch was a lifeline customers in the area because neighbouring branches had closed.

In the past six years, 21 post offices in Oxfordshire have closed. The most recent casualty was in Courtland Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, in March.

The changes will come into effect over an 18-month period from this summer.

Before MPs vote an extra £2.5 billion every year away to the EU - which still cannot pass its annual financial audit - they should surely explain to local voters why there isn't more government subsidy available to "lifeline" post offices in order to prevent 2,500 facing closure.

If the answer is insufficient government funds, then MPs can scarcely afford to approve sending billions extra to the EU. Or those local voters without a post office as a result will likely want answers for such a clearly irresponsible approach to public spending, come the next election.