Salford’s MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey, has written to Government Ministers asking them to intervene and call a halt to plans which could see Salford City’s post office close. Salford City’s branch is among more than 100 across the UK at risk of closure.

Rebecca said, “Salford City’s Post Office is an essential part of our local economy and is relied upon by local residents and businesses, and those who collect their pensions and benefits. 

“Salford’s Post Office has good access arrangements in a prominent position, with well-trained staff who have a wealth of experience between them. For them to receive this news before Christmas is a kick in the teeth. 

“I’ve written to Government Ministers asking them to intervene and call a halt to these plans.”

In her letter, Rebecca said that “Salford’s Post Office has good access arrangements in a prominent position. If franchise arrangements are to be made where the branch closes and is relocated by a third-party retailer, it raises concern about the quality of service we would be losing. We have often seen that in these cases, franchising has seen longer queuing times, reduced services, inferior advice given on products and poor disabled access.”

She adds that “Salford City’s Post Office boasts with well-trained staff who have a wealth of experience between them” and  “to receive this news before Christmas will no doubt add financial pressure and worry about how secure their future employment will be.”

The Salford City branch is one out of the eight across Greater Manchester that are being sold.

The 115 branches are the only remaining branches directly owned by the Post Office.

In the future all post offices will be franchises. Currently retailers such as WH Smith, Tesco, Morrisons and the Co-Op operate around 2,000 Post Offices across the country.

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Note for editors:-

 • A full copy of Rebecca’s letter is as follows:-

Letter to Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Services, Small Business and Exports:

Dear Gareth,

Re: Salford City’s Post Office

I am getting in touch about the Crown Post Office’s plans to close up to 115 branches, including Salford City’s Post Office, and reports that alternative franchise arrangements are being considered.

Salford City’s Post Office is relied upon by local residents and businesses, and those who collect their pensions and benefits. Salford’s Post Office has good access arrangements in a prominent position. If franchise arrangements are to be made where the branch closes and is relocated by a third-party retailer, it raises concern about the quality of service we would be losing. We have often seen that in these cases, franchising has seen longer queuing times, reduced services, inferior advice given on products and poor disabled access.

Salford City’s Post Office boasts with well-trained staff who have a wealth of experience between them. If quality jobs such as theirs are to be replaced with low paid insecure work, it damages our local economies and our high streets, which are often decimated by the closing of Crown offices in prime sites that once provided custom in the area. Furthermore, for Crown Post Office staff to receive this news before Christmas will no doubt add financial pressure and worry about how secure their future employment will be. I note that wider proposals aim to place postmasters at the heart of its plans in the wake of the Horizon IT scandal, but reports that a 1,000 roles at the Crown sites are at risk runs a coach and horses through this aim.

People in Salford and beyond have tremendous affection for our Post Offices and they want to see them have a strong future on our high streets. As such, I look to you as the Minister responsible to look at what support the Government can provide in halting these planned closures and engage with the Communication Workers Union on protecting jobs and services.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP

Member of Parliament for Salford

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