AFTER receiving over 7,000 pieces of correspondence and attending 32 meetings, Post Office Ltd announced on Tuesday its final decision on which branches in Devon would close. During the six week consultation period, which ended on June 30, Post Office Ltd met with customers and their representatives and received thousands of letters. On Tuesday, they announced their decision to retain a total of 333 branches across the Devon area, and to proceed with 37 of the closures and 32 of the replacement Outreach Services in the Area Plan Proposal. Their proposals to replace Bridestowe and Shebbear Post Offices with Outreach solutions are currently in the process of a further review by Postwatch who have said they will not accept the decision on the two villages and are appealing to the Secretary of State. Post Office Ltd said: "We expect this to be concluded in the near future at which time we will communicate our final decisions." The consultation process was scrutinised by Postwatch, the independent consumer watchdog, who have been closely involved throughout the programme. Chelston and Torre Post Offices are the only two branches which Post Office Ltd have decided will remain open. They chose not to proceed with the two proposed closures "as a result of feedback received during the local public consultation." Post Office Ltd are now proposing to permanently close branches at Abbotskerwell and Moreleigh instead. Commenting on the decision to close the Sutcombe branch, Post Office Ltd said: "Post Office Ltd acknowledges that public transport in the local area is very limited. However customer numbers at Post Office Sutcombe branch are very low and Post Office Limited considers the fact that there are no retail stores in the local area indicates that residents are already likely to be required to travel outside the village to access essential products and services. Car ownership in the local area is relatively high." Post Office Limited has also decided to proceed with the replacement of the following branches with an Outreach service: Ashwater, Bridgerule, Buckland Brewer, Chillaton, Langtree, Lewdown, Meeth, Northlew and St Giles-on-the-Heath. The full story and local protests about the planned post office closure programme for North Cornwall can be found in the current editions of the Cornish & Devon Post Series. See next week's 'Post' (July 31) for photographs and reports of the public meetings on the subject held in Bude and Launceston.
