Yahoo News The closure of two Post Office branches has left residents 'confused'
Two potential Post Office branch closures have been greeted with confusion in Liverpool. It was revealed on Thursday, November 13 that the Post Office is looking to offload 115 directly-owned Crown Post Offices within its 11,500 branch network, which could see them transferred to retail partners or postmasters, or potentially closed.
The announcement includes two branches in Liverpool - Breck Road and Old Swan - as the Post Office looks to offload 115 directly-owned Crown Post Offices within its 11,500 branch network, which could see them transferred to retail partners or postmasters, or potentially closed.
Around 1,000 workers are employed across the branches and the Post Office also confirmed that hundreds of further roles are under threat at its headquarters as it looks to streamline back-office operations. The announcement was met with confusion by residents and business owners who live near the Breck Road and Old Swan branches.
READ MORE: Post Office map shows all the branches at risk of closure including two in Liverpool
Sar Omar, 45, has ran Greenfield Tyres, just off Prescot Road, since 2001. He claims that the closure of the Post Office in Old Swan would impact his business greatly as some of his customers rely on the cash machine, because he can't accept contactless payment. He said: “The nearest cash machine is in the Tesco, so if it is raining people can’t walk down, especially with a child. We need the Post Office."
Similarly, Alan Smith, 55, from Old Swan Flooring expressed concern about the potential loss of the cash machine. He said: “It will impact a lot of businesses along this road." He was confused about why this location in particular is at risk of closure, as he claims "there’s a queue out the door every morning".
Chris Jefferies, from Old Swan, brings her dad Rodney D’aff to the Post Office on Prescot Road every week. He says he has been coming since 1966 to manage housekeeping and bills. They say that now the banks on the road have closed, it leaves people in Old Swan with nowhere to go. Chris said: "It's unfair, especially for elderly people."
Down in Anfield, people in the area shared similar frustration. Emma Fitzgerald, 23, is an assistant manager at the British Red Cross charity shop in Anfield and believes the closure of the Breck Road branch would affect charity shops in the surrounding areas.
Emma said: "We bank and go there every day, without it our job would be a lot more difficult, and we would lose a lot of customers, it will also affect the charity shops in other areas this is happening in as people rely on them, the post office is one of the busiest places in the area."
Margaret Robins, 81, from Anfield claims "there is no where else really to go". The 81-year-old said: "I use the internet for my postage but my next-door neighbour isn’t able to and will be lost without it, it’s sad really because they’re not thinking about the elderly people who use the Post Office and queue up on a Monday for it."
Post Office chairman Nigel Railton claims the shake-up will offer a “new deal for postmasters” by increasing their share of revenue and giving them a better say in the running of the business. In an announcement to postmasters and staff on Wednesday, Mr Railton said: “The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service, and today we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters.
“We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal.” He added the overhaul also “begins a new phase of partnership during which we will strengthen the postmaster voice in the day-to-day running and operations of the business, so they are represented from the frontline to the boardroom”.
