Fears of closure of 300 post offices in North

Rural and disadvantaged communities in the North will be hard hit by the British government’s decision to press ahead with a mass closure of post offices, it was claimed today.

It is feared that up to 300 small post offices in the North could be among the 2,500 expected to close across the UK.

Trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling has signalled there will be no change to plans for closures following a consultation exercise.

Sinn Féin Rural Development spokesman Francie Molloy said such a level of closure would have a devastating impact on the local communities most in need of them.

Royal Mail insisted today that they had not even started to consider which post offices in the North will close or even how many.

A spokesman said it was “total speculation” up to 300 would be affected. He added: “ There will be closures in Northern Ireland but it will be some weeks before any decisions on number are made.”

However, Mr Molloy said: “The loss of hundreds of post offices across the north will have a devastating impact on communities, particularly, not only in rural areas where the post office plays such an important role.”

The rural post office was not just a central part of the community , it was an essential link, particularly for older people, he said.

He added: “This determination of the British government to undermine the future of our post office network is a disgrace.”

The last Assembly had shown its support for the post office network, he said, and expressed the believe there was scope for the new Executive to put in place an imaginative response to the threat that could both support and enhance the current network.