'Use them or lose them' alert over post offices

New post offices set up in shops, community centres and mobile vans may have to close. according to the Consumer Focus organisation which says that Post Office Ltd needs to take action to improve the reliability and range of services they offer.

Hundreds of the outreach post offices have been set up, often in rural areas where there were not enough people to support a full time branch, since the last closure programme in 2007.

Opened in locations such as village shops, community centres and mobile vans, the outreach post offices provide services on a part-time basis but are still essential for their thousands of users.

According to Consumer Focus, customer satisfaction with outreach post offices is good, with two-thirds of users saying they were satisfied with the service.

However, one in three people not using their local outreach say it is because the opening hours or location is unsuitable.

Similarly, a third of those not using their outreach service say they were unaware it even existed.

Andy Burrows, postal expert at Consumer Focus, said: "Outreach post offices are providing vital services to many isolated communities.

"If they shut, it will be much harder for people to access services they rely on, for example to collect their pension.

"If they are to survive, Post Office Ltd must stop treating outreach post offices and their customers like they are a poor relation.

"Outreach post offices need to be allowed to change and meet local demand for new services. With proper support, outreach post offices can thrive to become the heartbeat of the areas they serve."