Gilesgate post office

TWO post offices in Durham City are the latest to be earmarked for closure as part of the controversial programme to cut the national network.

Brancepeth Post Office and Gilesgate are among 80 throughout the North-East on a new hit list announced by the Post Office on Tuesday.

Esh Village Stores Post Office at Front Street, Esh is also facing closure.

The Post Office has started a six-week public consultation on the proposals.

The Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Durham City, Carol Woods, who is also city council deputy leader, said: "The Government has shown utter disregard for the local communities affected by today's announcement. For many people - often those most in need - travelling to the nearest post office will no longer be an option, they will have to go without vital services. This attack strikes at the heart of our communities.'' Countryside Alliance North East Regional Director Richard Dodd commented: "Post offices are the social heart of many communities, and without them many thousands of people, including many elderly and disabled, would be increasingly isolated."

But Durham City Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods said: "Of course I would prefer that no branches had to close but the Post Office has made this decision as part of its Network Change Programme as people are using post offices much less now and in different ways than was the case in the past."

She added she would like some kind of counter service to continue to be provided in the Gilesgate area of the city.

Adrian Wales, Post Office Ltd's Network Development Manager for the North-East, said: "We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for Post Office services in this area, bearing in mind the minimum access criteria and the other factors we have to take into account."

11:16am Friday 4th July 2008

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