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Post Office Ltd today announced decisions on the future of Post Office branches across West Berkshire and Wiltshire following a six week public consultation which ended on 31 January.

Post Office services will be provided through a network of 234 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government and ensures that over 99% of West Berkshire and Wiltshire's population will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The plan confirmed today means that 33 branches will close in West Berkshire and Wiltshire with the first closures scheduled to take place in April 2008.

These branches were detailed in the Area Plan proposal published on 11 December 2007.

The replacement of 8 branches by outreach solutions was also confirmed today.

These decisions have been reached after public consultation and Postwatch, the consumer body representing Post Office customers, has verified the correct consultation procedures were followed. Postwatch has confirmed that it will not ask for any decision to be further reviewed by Post Office Ltd.

The proposals for a further 6 branches at Avebury, Barkham Road, Lacock, London Road, The Obelisk and Yatton Keynell are currently under further review by Postwatch, and decisions will be announced shortly.

Full details of the decisions and the issues raised during local public consultation are available by visiting "www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or by writing to Post Office Ltd at Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp needed) or by emailing consultation@postoffice.co.uk During the six week local public consultation, Post Office Ltd received around 3700 responses and attended more than 21 meetings with customers and their representatives to understand their concerns. All information provided by customers formed part of the final decision regarding each affected branch.

Tim Nicholls, Post Office Ltd's Network Development Manager for West Berkshire and Wiltshire, said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation. We believe that the amended plan announced today offers our customers across West Berkshire and Wiltshire and the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Governmentís minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider."

10:14am Friday 22nd February 2008

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