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MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron raised concerns in Parliament over the Post Office on Stricklandgate being on a list of branches the Post Office could offload in a bid to boost postmaster pay.
The Post Office revealed it is looking to get rid of 115 directly owned branches within its 11,500 network which could see them transferred to retail partners or postmasters – or potentially closed.
The Liberal Democrat MP told parliament he was ‘deeply alarmed’ that Kendal Post Office appears on the list and added three years ago the previous government and Post Office administration threatened the branch with closure.
Mr Farron said: “We won our campaign to save it, in part because Post Office Ltd could see there was not space at WH Smiths in Kendal to take the Post Office, that has not changed. And likewise, that Royal Mail might lose their sorting office as a consequence of a closure, that has not changed either.
“What has changed is that two more high street banks, Halifax and Lloyds, have deserted Kendal Town Centre on the basis they claim that we’ve got the Post Office down the road, and they will be able to take up the slack.
“Isn’t this the time to give guarantees to Post Office’s like Kendal that they will remain a Crown Office for the foreseeable future to support our town and our economy.”
In response Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said ‘no decisions’ have been taken about Kendal or any other individual directly managed branch.
Mr Thomas added: “We do expect the Post Office to talk to subpostmasters to trade unions and other stakeholders going forward.
“There are significant additional costs associated with the directly managed branches and it’s right the Post Office looks at those questions as well.”
Post Office chairman Nigel Railton said the shake-up will also offer a ‘new deal for postmasters’ by increasing their share of revenue and giving them a greater say in the running of the business as it looks to move on from the Horizon IT scandal that saw hundreds of subpostmasters wrongfully convicted.
Mr Railton made the announcement at the company’s headquarters in London on Wednesday in a speech to postmasters across the country, as well as retail partners and Post Office staff.
“We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal.”
He added the overhaul also “begins a new phase of partnership during which we will strengthen the postmaster voice in the day-to-day running and operations of the business, so they are represented from the frontline to the boardroom.
