The Government has stated it wants to encourage more community-run post offices where they are viable.

These services, unlike ‘normal’ post offices, would not be connected to Post Office Ltd. The community itself pays for a daily collection by Royal Mail, and there is a limit to the range of postal services that the service can provide.

The post offices usually sit within community enterprises and provide basic postal services – for example weighing items, selling stamps, and having a posting facility. Other services could also be incorporated, such as a shop, a café, or internet access points.

How the enterprise is run, its location, and services provided depends on the community and the management model chosen. An example of a community (Brockweir in Gloucestershire) that is operating its own postal service is available at www.virsa.org/pdf/Brockweir.pdf.

Should your closing post office be part of the only local shop – and as a consequence of the closure the shop is also lost – then consider establishing a community-owned shop. There are currently some 170 in the UK, many of which incorporate post offices. ViRSA, the Village Retail Services Association, has advice sheets on their website www.virsa.org to help communities who are considering this option.

Responding to Post Office Ltd’s consultations:
Email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk
Write to:
National Consultation Team
Post Office Ltd

FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Telephone: 08457 22 33 44

ViRSA
Tel: 01993 814377 or 01993 810730
Email: virsa@plunkett.co.uk
www.virsa.org

Postwatch
The watchdog for postal services
Tel:  08456 013265 or 028 9027 9348
Email: info@postwatch.co.uk
www.postwatch.co.uk