The people of West Devon are being invited to have their say on the impact of possible closures of post offices in the borough. As the Post Office has announced a review of its network over the next few months, the council wants to know what its residents think and has set up a web page ? http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/postofficereview">www.westdevon.gov.uk/postofficereview ? giving more information. The Post Office announced in May that the country?s 14,000 post offices would need to be cut by 2,500 by the end of 2008 as the network could not sustain total losses of £4m a week. Now the organisation is to hold a Devon area review of Post Office services which it intends to complete by April 2008. The borough council has warned that any closures will have serious consequences on many communities in the West Devon area. Through its overview and scrutiny committee, the authority has set up a special task group of councillors to respond fully to the post office consultation. West Devon has actively raised the profile of its post offices over the years and only in February held a week-long ?Use Your Post Office? campaign which sent out a message of support to its rural and town post offices, and encouraged people to use the many services on offer. Cllr Alison Clish-Green, who is chair of the group, said: ?West Devon has taken a prominent stance over the threat to our rural post offices arising from the Government?s rationalisation plans. ?At our first meeting last week, we agreed our approach to the forthcoming local area review. ?We know many local people have strong views on these proposals and we would welcome any input to our discussions from the public.? Cllr David Weeks, chairman of the borough?s overview and scrutiny committee, said: ?The committee works to ensure that local service provision across West Devon is fit for purpose and meets the need of our population. ?The potential closure of post offices in Devon over the next few years could have serious consequences for many villages and the sustainability of our rural communities. ?As such this is a vital area of investigation for my committee and along with other West Devon councillors we shall ensure that the council plays a full part in the local area review process.? To make your views known email [email protected]">[email protected] or you can write in to Post Office Review Task Group, West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock PL19 0BZ.
