Post Office plans to offload south Essex branch by this autumn

The Post Office has revealed plans to offload its last remaining directly-owned Essex branch by the autumn.

It confirmed that it is offloading 108 crown branches which are currently directly owned and run by the company.

The process could see the sites taken over by other businesses, while others could face closure as franchises are moved to different premises.

Among those affected is the South Ockendon branch in Derwent Parade.

The Post Office stressed communities affected “will continue to be able to access Post Office services either at, or near to, the same location”.

The move is part of efforts by the Post Office to generate cash to help it increase pay for postmasters.

It comes after the organisation, which has undergone a significant overhaul since the impact of the Horizon IT scandal when hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongfully convicted, announced a review of the branches late last year.

Around 1,000 workers are employed across the 108 branches.

The Post Office said the plan, which is subject to Government funding, will help it to increase postmaster remuneration by an extra £250 million a year by 2030.

Post Office chairman Nigel Railton said: “Moving to a fully franchised network is one part of enabling the Post Office to deliver a New Deal for Postmasters, helping to create a long-term, sustainable future for the Post Office.

“By franchising these branches, we are protecting access to our services for communities right across the UK and realising £40 million worth of savings that will enable us to uplift postmasters’ remuneration by up to 10 per cent.”