WEST DEVON post offices may find out tomorrow (Friday) whether the Government has a viable plan to enable them to stay in business.
Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers is to meet the national executive of the Federation of Subpostmasters to discuss measures to support the ailing post office network.
Dozens of post offices across West Devon have closed this year as subpostmasters and subpostmistresses give up for lack of income, or retire, or find they cannot cope with new technology.
The Government has promised an injection of £30 million in 2003, when benefits and pensions are to be paid through banks, but the subpostmasters say they cannot wait that long.
'We're getting extremely jumpy,' said Alan Butlin, a South-West member of the federation's national executive. 'Unless something is done the network will be decimated.'
The Government has dropped its idea that it could compel the Post Office to keep its branches open until 2003, after the Post Office challenged its right to force a business to keep trading. 'Subpostoffices are not run by employees,' pointed out its spokesperson.
The subpostmasters have insisted that government action is needed now to ensure their long-term business prospects. They hope Mr Byers may have something more to tell them tomorrow.
Their hopes are pinned on the establishment of a 'universal bank', with post offices providing a wide range of financial services, but this idea has made little progress so far.
Torridge and West Devon MP John Burnett said this week that the minister Alan Johnson had told him a new proposal for the universal bank would be produced by the end ot the year.