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Royal Mail may close 250 Post Offices
Archived article dated Monday November 1st 2004
The Royal Mail is considering closing up to half of its main Post Office sites in the UK, according to reports.
Between 240 to 270 Crown offices could be sold off or offered to retailers or other groups to run on a franchised basis. RoyalMail operates 560 Crown offices, owned directly rather than run on a franchise basis by sub-postmasters.
The Times reports that among the Crown offices that may be closed or sold are those in Spring Gardens, Manchester, Bank Street, Bradford; and Trafalgar Square, London. All have high overheads.
The move would be politically controversial as the loss of access to Post Office services is always of concern to MPs. This makes it likely that Royal Mail will be encouraged to go into partnerships with other retailers to take over the sites. Many are in prime locations and would realise high prices on the property market.
A Rotal Mail spokesman told the Times: "We have told the unions that with things as they are the number of offices we can make work is between 320 and 390." Those which are to be closed or sold are expected to be identified before the end of the year.
Tagged as: Royal Mail
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