Lifeline for post offices

Closure-threatened Post Offices in the Wyre Forest district could be saved by a lifeline from the local authority, a new report claims.

The idea of the Post Office linking up with Worcestershire County Council to prop up some struggling stores will be considered by authority chiefs next week.

Other local councils, including Essex, are already looking at the possibility of funding Post Offices to help retain them for local communities.

The Post Office, which is to announced more expected closures tomorrow, has said it is willing to discuss the implications and costings of any such move.

The announcement of closures by Post Office Ltd, will signal the start of a six-week consultation period for campaigners to voice concerns.

It has already received 100 inquiries from interested groups and about 50 of these have progressed to the point of seeking financial accounts.

Worcestershire County Council officials have now called a meeting for members and colleagues from district councils on September 4 to discuss the proposed closures.

They are due to consider whether to provide local funding for post offices they believe should be kept open.

There are concerns that Post Offices are often the only shop serving many communities in the Wyre Forest.

Councillor John Campion, leader of Wyre Forest District Council, said: "This would not be a case of putting tax-payers' money into this. We have customer service centres such as the Worcestershire Hub and it might be possible to have a joint working arrangement.