POTENTIAL post office closures in West Devon, expected to be announced this month, will severely disadvantage the most vulnerable in society, the borough council fears. Councillors are united in opposing government plans which could see up to 60 post offices across rural Devon close within the next 12 months. As part of the Government's national review programme, a total of 2,500 post offices across the country could be closed to combat the £4-million per week losses currently incurred by Post Office Ltd. Cllr James McInnes, Leader of West Devon Borough Council, said any closures would mean that rural communities would suffer. At a recent meeting of the council, he demanded that the Government re-examine its plans. He said: 'The elderly, disabled and the most disadvantaged in West Devon rely on the rural post office network the most, particularly as public transport links are so inadequate. 'We deplore the Government's current programme, which in West Devon could mean the closure of these essential lifelines for our residents. 'Local post offices in the rural heartland often double up as the village store and community meeting place and are seen in many areas as the focal point of rural life. 'The closure of these places of traditional village life would be catastrophic and the Government has a moral obligation to sit up and listen to what people across the country are saying.' The council unanimously agreed to call on the Government to review its latest round of post office closures. Councillors also asked that sustainable ways to keep the network open be investigated, including opening post offices as 'One Stop Shops' for government services and introducing 'Council Counters' to deal with council services. Councillors are demanding that if the Government is unwilling to review its closure policy, then it must ensure no rural community is without practicable and viable access to a post office, including those residents without private transport. Following the Government's expected announcement, a period of public consultation will follow and councillors are urging all residents to join them in emphasising the vital role that the local post office has within the rural community. West Devon Borough Council has actively raised the profile of its post offices over the years and a Post Office Review Task Group of councillors and officers has been actively responding to the post office network change programme. Last year, the council held a week-long Use Your Post Office campaign which sent out a message of support to its rural and town post offices, encouraging people to use the many services on offer. To have your say on the future of post offices, send an email to postofficereview@west devon.gov.uk or write to Post Office Review Task Group, West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock PL19 0BZ.
