Post offices are likely to avoid the axe (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Post offices are likely to avoid the axe

8:52am Saturday 16th December 2006 in Chard By Matthew Colledge

THE sub-postmaster of post offices in Chard and South Chard is confident they will survive as the Government prepares to slash funding to the Royal Mail.

Les Gilbert believes both offices will avoid the axe likely to fall on many of Britain's 9,400 rural post offices when a £150m Government subsidy runs out in 2008.

The Government is this week expected to announce the level of its future contribution to the loss-making network, which has already been hit by the loss of the Post Office Card Account.

Mr Gilbert, who also owns a Post Office in Lyme Regis, said: "We hope that both Chard and Lyme Regis are safe because they are big commercial offices."

In May, Mr Gilbert moved South Chard Post Office from Post Office Lane to Wessex Stores.

It is now open seven days a week from 7.30am-8pm and has seen a 45% growth in business.

Mr Gilbert said: "We are going against the national trend. The longer opening hours are working a treat."

Despite the success of the venture, Mr Gilbert said the future of South Chard Post Office was in no way guaranteed.

He said: "I am worried, but I'm not unduly worried.

"Hopefully with the growth we have made it will be safe, but we do not know until an announcement is made."

Mr Gilbert said the Post Office's problems stemmed from there being too many underused offices in very rural areas.

He said: "They are costing a lot of money in Government subsidies. The subsidy is coming up for renewal and the Government doesn't want them all.

"We hope to stand out as an example of how to make the business grow, but they may decide that because Chard Post Office is close to South Chard they can't both carry on."

n MP for Chard and Ilminster David Laws has criticised the likely post office closures.

He said: "It is appalling the Government is considering closing thousands of rural post offices when it has been proven the social role post offices play in rural communities offers a vital lifeline to so many people.

"The Government must stop undermining the Post Office network by withdrawing its business and must instead modernise the network to encourage greater efficiency and improve profitability, before resorting to closures.

"The Post Office network is invaluable in rural areas such as ours and it must be protected."