Plymouth Councillors Urge Post Office to Reverse Branch Closure Plans

Plymouth city councillors have urged the Post Office to abandon its intentions to shut down one of its branches within the city. This appeal comes amidst a significant restructuring of the business, which jeopardizes up to 115 Post Office branches and hundreds of positions at its head office. During a Plymouth City Council meeting held on Monday, Councillor Angela Penrose stated that the Mutley Plain branch, currently facing closure, represents a “major asset contributing to the viability and popularity” of the locality. Other branches in Devon and Cornwall facing potential closure include Bideford, Newquay, Paignton, and Teignmouth. The meeting saw support for Ms. Penrose’s motion, which proposed writing to Nigel Railton, the Post Office’s interim chair, to request a reversal of the plans to close the Mutley Plain branch. She highlighted that the branch is extensively utilized by local residents, including young individuals and students, noting the consistent presence of a “substantial queue.” Ms. Penrose further pointed out the branch’s accessibility features, such as wheelchair access, convenient nearby parking, and adaptable space for service points. She emphasized the efforts of local businesses, stating, “Traders are striving to keep [the] area relevant and thriving.” She added that “Having this one in Mutley makes it so much easier for residents,” and concluded, “We want to support Mutley Plain being a local shopping centre.” The Post Office, a government-owned entity, stated that the branches slated for closure, which collectively employ approximately 1,000 individuals, are operating at a financial deficit. Mr. Railton recently affirmed that the Post Office has “long held a publicly-stated ambition to move to a fully franchised network.” He also mentioned, “We are in dialogue with the unions about future options for the directly managed branches.” He indicated that this transition is projected to generate an additional £250 million in revenue for sub-postmasters. Currently, there are 11,000 Post Office franchises operating nationwide.