THE shutters could come down at three more post offices in St Helens later this year as part of a national programme of urban closures.

Post Office Ltd is restructuring its national network of more than 9,000 urban post offices because in many cities and towns there are too many offices competing for too little business. The aim is to safeguard access to a post office for all communities.

Following a preference exercise during which subpostmasters across the country were asked to indicate their wishes for the future, the organisation has agreed with the subpostmasters of Dunriding Lane Post Office, Lingholme Road Post Office in Dentons Green Lane and Vincent Street Post Office in Corporation Street that these branches should close permanently in October.

Consultation

Dave Barrett, Head of Area, said this week: "We do not propose closing a post office without considerable research and discussion so we are anxious that customers and all relevant organisations understand why we consider it necessary to reduce the size of our network. The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business.

"In the case of Dunriding Lane, Lingholme Road and Vincent Street Post Offices, the subpostmasters want to leave our organisation because of a declining number of customers, increased running costs, and the prospect of even less business now the Department of Works and Pensions has started to transfer benefit payments from passbooks to bank accounts.

"We have considered these requests very carefully and have concluded that if these offices were to close, it would improve the long-term prospects of the other offices in the area.

"The nearest alternative branches to Vincent Street Post Office are St Helens branch in Bridge Street and College Street branch, which are both 0.4 of a mile away. The nearest branches to Lingholme Road Post Office are Dentons Green branch in Greenfield Road (0.4miles) and Cambridge Road branch (half a mile). The nearest offices to Dunriding Lane branch are Knowsley Road branch (half a mile) and Cambridge Road branch (0.7miles).

"We are confident they could cope with the extra business and therefore we are proposing to close Dunriding Lane, Lingholme Road and Vincent Street Post Offices permanently. But before we make a final decision, we are keen to hear of any concerns customers and others might have about the closure and about the services provided by these nearest, alternative offices."

Customers should submit their comments before September 5 to;

National Consultation Team, PO Box 6441, St Albans, AL1 5XN