Latest on Oxfordshire's post offices

Not enough publicity

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Keith Mitchell, responded officially on behalf of the county council. He said that the consultation had not been sufficiently promoted in places where closures are proposed and that there had been a heavy reliance on the internet - excluding many of those who are likely to use post office services.

Longer consultation period needed

He said: "We ask that the consultation period be extended, giving more time to include local people, businesses and elected members and provide them with more information about the post offices under threat.

"While recognising the Post Office's need to reduce its costs, the strategy to run down the post office network may prove to be counter-productive in the longer term and we suggest that a wider and longer consultation period - with the support of local authorities and local strategic partnerships - would encourage other business models and a wider range of possible options to emerge for consideration.

"If the government is willing to spend millions of pounds in saving Northern Rock then it ought to be able to find the much more modest sums needed to retain such highly valued institutions that are the bedrock of communities."

Poor access to services

The county council's response detailed the post offices proposed for closure that serve areas that have

• poor access to services
• high numbers of elderly people
• higher than average numbers of people with limiting long term illnesses and poor access to vehicles.

Councillor Mitchell added: "It remains to be seen how much notice is taken of the responses made by many local people, the county council, our colleagues at district councils and others.

"Essex County Council is one council that has actively intervened to preserve some post offices for a short time. We are interested in looking at what Essex is doing and seeing what we could learn. However, I would have thought it highly unlikely that we will go down the same path.

"Councils should not be put in a position where they have to take up the slack left by the withdrawal of government funding. It should not be forgotten that it is the government's financial machinations that have precipitated this situation."

To get all the background detail behind the planned closures, visit the Postwatch website.

Threatened post offices

The following 22 post offices are affected:

• Ardington
• Begbroke
• Childrey
• Combe
• Crowmarsh
• Dalton Barracks
• Farmoor
• Fyfield
• Grandpont, Oxford
• Grimsbury, Banbury
• Church Way, Iffley

• Villiers Road, Bicester
• Long Wittenham
• Orchard Way, Banbury
• Stanmore Crescent, Carterton
• Stanton St John
• Upton
• West End, Witney
• Wolvercote
• Wootton near Woodstock
• Wootton Road, Abingdon
• Wytham

In addition the following five post offices are proposed for outreach (reduced service provided by neighbouring sub-postmaster):

• Chadlington
• Enstone
• Great Rollright
• Great Tew
• Tackley

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