North West: 65 post offices to close

Post Office bosses have unveiled plans to axe 65 branches in parts of the North West - reports the Manchester Evening News.

A six-week consultation will now be held before a final decision is taken to axe the branches in Merseyside, the Wirral, Cheshire, Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield.

Some 371 post offices are set to remain open in the area and new outreach services - where post office services are operated from pubs or village shops - will be created in Malpas, Crewe and Tarporley.

Post Offices bosses insist that more than 99% of people in the affected area will see no change to their service or be within one mile of another branch.

Jane Briginshaw, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for the North West, 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.

"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 set by the Government."

Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley said: "It is deplorable that this government, which was elected on a devolution platform, is now sounding the death knell to local communities throughout Liverpool.

"Post offices are a crucial public service and once again Labour is forcing through cuts."

Post Office branches in the following parliamentary constituencies are included in this area plan: Altrincham and Sale West, Birkenhead, Bootle, City of Chester, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Crosby, Eddisbury, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Halton, Knowsley North and Sefton East, Knowsley South, Leigh, Liverpool Garston, Liverpool Riverside, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree, Liverpool West, Derby, Makerfield, St Helens North, St Helens South, Tatton, Wallasey, Warrington North, Warrington South, Weaver Vale, Wigan, Wirral South and Wirral West.