National Post Office Network Change Programme

Background

In July 2007 Post Office Ltd announced that they would be embarking on a Network Change Programme following announcements by the Government on its future policy towards the Post Office network.  This will result in the closure of up to 2,500 Post Offices nationwide (both urban and rural).  There are approximately 55 Post Offices in Breckland of which approximately 10% could be affected.

Post Office Ltd commenced their closure programme in various parts of the UK in October 2007. All closures are planned to take place over 18 months starting in 2008.  The programme involves grouping closure proposals into Area Plans.  Each Area Plan comprises of a number of parliamentary constituencies and are subject to the six week public consultations.

The Breckland area is part of the Norfolk and West Suffolk Area Plan which was made available for public consultation on the 26 March 2008 for a period of six weeks.  Although due to reasons of purdah in some areas of the UK the deadline for the consultation for this Area Plan is 02 June 2008.  

About this page

The downloads and information on this page provide the most up to date information on the situation regarding the planned programme of closures and the implications for Breckland.  There are also links below to both the relevant section of the Post Office website and Postwatch.  There is also information on this page about what the Council has been doing and why.

Post Office Ltd -The Consultation

The documents that relate to the consultation for the Norfolk & West Suffolk Area Plan can be downloaded below.  However we would like to draw your attention to the contact that you need to use if you wish to make a submission during the consultation period whther you are an individual, or on behalf of an organisation. However please note that the official closing date for the consultation is 02 June 2008.  Please use the following:

The outcomes from the consultation, i.e. whether any planned closures have been reprieved will be know at the end of June 2008.

For further information from Post Office Ltd or Postwatch please use the following links:
Postwatch - Closure Information
Post Office Ltd - Closure Programme

What is the Council doing?

Online Member Survey
A survey was issued to all Ward Members and Parish Council’s along with a briefing sheet and a covering letter from the Leader of the Council asking them to feedback the current situation, viability, usage and any other associated issues with Post Office service delivery in their wards in an online survey.  The survey consisted of nine questions.  Out of 159 issued surveys 40 responses were received by the deadline on 30 November 07.  In addition to the survey a number of letters have been received pleading for local rural post offices to remain open.  

Petition
An online petition was posted on the Council’s website and citizens were made aware of this petition via the survey covering letter to members and Parish Councils and via two editions of Breckland Voice.  700+ signatures have now been received until January 08.  The petition has been re-opened and put on front page of Council's website following Post Office Working Group meeting 28 March 08.

Communications
Three articles have been in Breckland Voice in September 07, December 07 and March 08.  Two press releases have been written and released on 12 February 08 and 26 March 08.  All the information relating to this issue has been uploaded onto this specific page of website.

Overview & Scrutiny Commission (OSC) Post Office Working Group
The Overview & Scrutiny Commission Post Office Working Group was established to respond to and be conduit for all activity and any lobbying efforts from the Council.  The group has met on 12 February 08, 28 March 08, 17 April 08 and 08 May 2008.  Also Officers and Members attended a public meeting called be Christopher Fraser MP meeting with Post Office Ltd on 07 April 08 and also a national conference on the 13 May 08 in London.  Following the conference officers were interviewed by Radio Norfolk.

Pre-Consultation Letter
A pre-consultation letter was sent to Post Office Ltd and Postwatch was sent on 05 March 08.  A subsequent response received from Post Office Ltd on 12 April 08.  Also Post Office Ltd wasinvited to and has agreed to attend the next Overview & Scrutiny Commission meeting on the 13 May 08, which will still be in the consultation period.  A letter has been sent to Postwatch regarding future impacts of closure programme on the 24 April 08.

Visits
Visits have been made to 13 Post Offices planned for closure, to check Post Office Ltd criteria.  One Post Office did not want to speak to the Council.  There has been a variety of responses – some area plan to fight and in some the Post Office is not supported.

Other
Ward Members and affected Parish Councils and Sub Postmasters attend a special Overview and Scrutiny Commission meeting on 13 May 08 where Post Office Ltd were present to answer questions on the Area Plan and process.  Minutes of this meeting are available on request.  The Breckland Local Strategic Partnership has been asked to support the campaign.  Norfolk County Council will support campaign but cases need to be put together by local communities.  

Final Response
Finally a formal response to the Consultation, via the Working Group, was agreed by Full Council on 22 May 08 and subsquently submitted on the 27 May 08 in time for the end of the consultation.  A copy is available to download below.

Support for Saving Your Local Post Office

Local communities wishing to create a campaign to try to save their local Post Office may like to know that others have done the same and there are several resources and templates available on the internet to help communities.  Here are four main best practice tips, however please also visit the links below to download further resources:

1. A written submission to Post Office Ltd: This is probably the most important element. You need to make your case based on clear fact and evidence rather than emotions.
2. Letters of protest to Post Office Ltd and the Government etc, and Petitions:  A personal letter or email, is worth much more than a lot of signatures within one envelope.  Having said that petitions show the resolve of the community on mass
3. Get your local Member of Parliament and you local councillors invloved and fighting for you:  These people have a lot of power so it is well worth involving them early.
4. Get Noticed:  Create as much coverage in local magazines, and newspapers as possible.  Remember the messages need to be consistent.

The following links may also help:
Post Office Closures National Action Group
Rippengale Village Campaign

Post Office Ltd - Norfolk & West Suffolk Area Consultation Dowloads

Norfolk & West Suffolk Area Plan Consultation Report (PDF format)
Norfolk & West Suffolk Area Plan Access Reports (PDF Format)
Norfolk & West Suffolk Area Plan Map (PDF Format)

Downloads

Post Office Closure Programme Summary Sheet (PDF format)
List of all Post Offices in Breckland (Microsoft Excel Format)
Map of all Post Offices in Breckland with 3 mile radius (PDF format)
Latest Press Release from Breckland Council (PDF format)
Article from Breckland Voice (September 2007) (PDF format)
Article from Breckland Voice (December 2007) (PDF format)
Article from Breckland Voice (February 2008) (PDF Format)
Article from Breckland Voice (June 2008) (PDF Format)
Breckland Council Survey Questions (PDF Format)
Breckland Council Survey Analysis (PDF Format)
Breckland Council pre-consultation formal response (PDF Format)
Breckland Council final consultation formal response (PDF Format)