Postmaster fears for future of service

The Government is currently consulting about the future of banking at post offices and Bruce Bill, sub-postmaster at Minsterley Post Office near Shrewsbury, says he believes it is vital more banking services are introduced.

He says his business and transactions are down as an increasing number of people use other organisations for services.

And he fears the downturn in business will continue and more post office branches will close if new services such as more banking are not introduced.

The Government's consultation, being led by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asked people to have their say about the future of banking at the post office and services they would like to see at their local branch.

Mr Bill today called for people to have their say and help remaining branches survive.

A national programme of closures saw 2,500 branches close while other post offices have seen a reduction in services they can offer.

In Shropshire, 14 post offices were closed with a further 13 replaced by outreach services last year.

Mr Bill said: "Without a people's bank I can't see rural post office branches surviving more than 10 years. As a sub-postmaster I'm worried about the future.

"I want the business to succeed. I run limited services at the moment and would like them to bring in a post office bank."

Susan Brookes, subpostmistress of Hanwood Post Office and Shropshire branch secretary of the National Federation of Subpostmasters, said: "It's vitally important that we get more products, particularly the banking.

"We need to get all the banks on board. If small bank branches are closed at least people would be able to access their money without a charge."

She said that at present banking services on offer at post offices were "limited" with each bank having different criteria about what branches can do.

By John Kirk