WEST Devon Borough Council has formally responded to Post Office Limited following the successful public awareness campaign of planned post office closures in the area. Nine post offices and five mobile post office services in the borough are under threat after a Devon review by Post Office Limited (POL) announced in May. West Devon is particularly badly hit by the proposals with just over 28% of post offices affected. In its response to POL, the council says: 'Whatever the outcome of this process is for our residents, we remain very alarmed about the damage it will cause to many communities and vulnerable individuals.' The proposals, if ratified, will see the total closure of two post offices in West Devon – Sampford Courtenay and Ford Street in Tavistock. A further seven post offices — Bridestowe, Chillaton, Lewdown, Meeth, Milton Abbot, Northlew and Postbridge — also face closure. POL is proposing to provide a reduced-hours 'outreach' service in these areas. Mobile post office services at Buckland Monachorum, Peter Tavy and Milton Combe will close, while the mobile service at Clearbrook and Lamerton will change to a special home service. The changes will come into effect in August. In its submission to POL, councillors say that it has not adequately taken account of outlying communities and parishes which many of West Devon's post offices serve, other than the immediate population in which they are situated. Councillors are also concerned there are an inadequate number of hours allocated for the proposed outreach services. POL estimates that 25 customers can be served in an hour but the council says that while buying a stamp takes a few seconds, some transactions can take much longer to complete. Councillors have also drawn attention to inaccuracies in the POL access reports on public transport to other locations where services will be retained. Of particular concern are the access reports which are based on distances as the crow flies, rather than the distance by road. Cllr Alison Clish-Green, chair of West Devon's task group on post offices, said: 'Post offices are a focal point for communities and rural businesses and we must fight hard to reduce the impact of these closures. 'I have been part of the working group responding to this difficult issue. 'Our response represents a clear consensus of us all and I hope that Post Office Limited pays serious attention to it.' Cllr David Weeks, chairman of the borough's overview and scrutiny committee, said: 'Attendances at public meetings held during the past weeks have been amazing and very strong views have been expressed. 'In drafting our response we had to bear in mind that 83 closures have been earmarked for Devon and any saved from the proposed list will be replaced with others from within Devon. 'For members of our task group it has been a hard decision to make and I am sure that not all residents will be satisfied. However, I can assure them that the committee has dealt with this serious matter in a professional way, but we were given little room to manoeuvre.'
