Council looks at buying up under-threat post offices

Published on Saturday 3 May 2008 11:06

THE city council is to look at buying under-threat post offices after warning that national cutbacks could hit Edinburgh harder than expected.

The Westminster Government is to close up to 2500 branches across the UK, because new technology and changing lifestyles means people are visiting post offices less.

Councillors have now officially "condemned" the controversial decision, and today vowed to work to minimise the impact in the Capital.

Each area of the country is expected to suffer around a 20 per cent drop in the number of post offices. Council officials previously estimated that 16 of the 75 in the Edinburgh area would close.

They have now admitted "it is possible that the number may be slightly higher".

In England, a number of councils have proposed buying post offices, and retaining them as community facilities with a range of council services also on offer. In Essex, up to 1.5 million has been committed by the local authority to achieve this.

Edinburgh's Tory group has now persuaded the ruling Lib Dem/SNP administration to investigate the cost of buying post offices in Edinburgh, although the council's troubled financial situation is likely to pose a problem.

Lib Dem councillor Conor Snowden said today: "We must work with Royal Mail to minimise the impact of closures."

The list of the post offices Royal Mail wishes to close in Edinburgh and the Lothians will be published on August 19. A public consultation will then get under way, with a series of protests and petitions expected this summer.

Lib Dems in south Edinburgh have already launched a campaign, and Lib Dem shadow chancellor Vince Cable was due to visit the Warrender Park Road sub-Post Office today.

South Edinburgh MSP Mike Pringle carried out a survey last year and found 81 per cent of locals thought that closures would have a "considerable impact" on their community.

The Lib Dem Westminster candidate for the area, Fred Mackintosh, said: "Labour is intent on destroying an important community service."

More than 20 branches have already closed in Edinburgh since 2001. Council officials have identified a number of branches they want to protect, such as Craigmillar, Muirhouse and Sighthill.

Director of corporate services Jim Inch said: "

If a good case for not closing any of the post offices listed (on August 19] is made by the public and other relevant parties, then they may be reprieved."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Business and Enterprise said: "Four million fewer people are using the post office each week than two years ago and Post Office losses rose from 2m a week in 2005 to 4m a week last year."