Postcomm leads research on rural post offices
7 December 2000
Postcomm today published its first paper on research into the future of the rural post office network throughout the UK.
The paper challenges readers to explore and give advice on:
- Actions that can be taken to give more effective support to the rural network before 2003/4.*
- Help for disabled people and elderly people to gain access to postal services
- The general issues concerned with the purpose, mechanism and timing of any financial assistance that may be directed to rural post offices from
2003/4.
Responses will help guide a major study being commissioned by Postcomm into what customers need, the contribution local post offices make to their
communities, and new opportunities for local post offices. They will also help Postcomm frame its advice to Government on the future of the post office network.
Notes to editors
Postcomm has been asked to monitor and report on the network of post offices and advise the Government on the best way to channel any financial assistance to the network. This is additional to its duties to ensure the provision of a universal postal service and to promote effective competition.
Printed versions of today's document, Preserving Access to Post Offices in Rural Areas (pdf, 131KB) will shortly be available from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road, London, SE1 7DB.
The deadline for comments is 2 February 2001.
*At present the post office network’s biggest source of revenue is from paying benefits and pensions over counters. During the period 2003/5 the Benefits Agency plans to move away from these arrangements and instead pay benefits and pensions direct into people’s bank accounts. People will still be able to get their benefits and pensions through post offices, but there is concern that the change will lead to lower network income and post office closures.
More information on Postcomm's work in relation to Post Offices.
