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News: Call for government to fix rural PO threat

Thousands of pensioners risk being cut off from their community unless the government steps in to rescue rural post offices, warns a new report.

Age Concern is lobbying the government to renew the £150 million a year subsidy, which expires at the end of March 2008, as part of an integrated approach to delivering local services.

Findings for the charity show that a whopping 99% of older people in rural areas consider their local post office to be ‘a lifeline’, with over half (56%) of over-60s in the countryside fearing that post office closures would leave them more isolated.

The report reveals that rural post offices provide much more than just a postal service to older people. Many pensioners use their post office as a one-stop shop to access their pension and benefits, pay their bills, get advice and information, and meet and socialise with others. Closures could leave many older people increasingly financially and socially excluded.

  • 76% of older people are worried about losing essential services if their post office is forced to close  
  • 73% feel that they wouldn’t be able to access similar services in their local area
  • 88% would have to make special travel arrangements to reach alternative services

The government has set up a special cabinet sub-committee to look at the future of the network.

 

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