DOZENS of post offices in and around Greater Manchester are on a closure hit list.

An announcement is due to be made by the Post Office on Tuesday, but a report leaked to the M.E.N. reveals that 67 out of 380 branches in the county, Cheshire and Derbyshire are to close. The move is expected to trigger widespread anger.

Public consultation will start on June 10 and last six weeks.

The offices to shut include: 11 in Stockport; 8 in Oldham; 5 in Manchester; 7 in Bolton; 5 in Bury; 3 in Salford; 7 in Rochdale; 6 in Tameside; 3 in Trafford; 1 in Wigan.

The report by the Post Office says it is 'acutely aware' of the concerns the changes will cause but added 'usage of Post Office branches is falling, in line with national trends, as more customers access services at other places, make more use of the internet and have their government benefits paid directly into bank accounts'.

Six offices in Macclesfield, two in Buxton and three in High Peak are also on the list.

Embarrassment

The plans could cause embarrassment for environment minister Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, whose brother Andrew runs a post office in Cumbria.

He has said it is a 'complex' issue but suggested local authorities should look at taking them over. All eight offices planned for closure in Oldham are in his constituency.

On Monday, Greater Manchester's four Liberal Democrat MPs - Mark Hunter, John Leech, Paul Rowen and Andrew Stunnell - will launch a petition against the latest wave of closures outside Spring Gardens Post Office in Manchester city centre.

Mr Rowen, MP for Rochdale, has collected 16,000 signatures and intends to step up the campaign.

Some 2.3m people are served by the 380 offices which will be reduced to 260 in towns and cities and 53 in rural areas.

The report says deprived areas, where 30 per cent of the population live, will be safeguarded against closures.

It is proposed that 104 branches will remain in deprived communities.

Criteria

It adds that the plan to reduce the number of offices to 313 would comply with the government's 'minimum access criteria' and for 90.8 per cent of customers it would mean no change to the branch they use.

Ten rural branches that support the only essential retailer in villages and small towns, and 19 that support the only access to cash in rural communities, will be saved.

After consultation with local communities, views will be assessed and no closures will be implemented before September.

The report adds: "Post Office Ltd is at a crucial point. Customer numbers are falling, customer habits are changing and many traditional services are available elsewhere.

"It is essential that the changes include a reduction in the number of branches be made if the network is to have a sustainable future."

The closures are part of government-driven plans to close 2,500 branches, with compensation being paid to those sub-postmasters whose businesses are compelled to shut.

In Salford a campaign to save branches has been led by deputy council leader David Lancaster.

Several sub-post offices in the inner-city will avoid the axe but one in Lewis Street, Patricroft, Eccles, another in Langworthy Road - in the heart of a regeneration area - and a third in Oldfield Road, on the edge of the Chapel Street regeneration scheme, will close.

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