The Post Office has announced the possibility of closing 115 Crown Post Office branches, putting up to 1,000 jobs at risk in a major restructuring aimed at minimizing losses.
The proposed changes could result in franchising arrangements with third party operators such as WHSmith taking over the management of the affected branches. However, the change has drawn sharp criticism from unions and community advocates.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) condemned the timing, as the move coincided with the ongoing investigation into the Horizon IT scandal, as “unethical” and “tone deaf”. The Horizon scandal, in which hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted over a software glitch, remains fresh in public memory, with many calling for transparency and justice.
Under the leadership of new boss Nigel Railton, the Post Office aims to put the organization on a more sustainable financial footing amid challenges such as competition from parcel operators and declining letter revenues. Losses reached £81m in the 2022-23 financial year, with nearly half of its branches operating at little or negative profitability.
Railton stressed the need for a “fresh start”, with plans to invest £250 million a year in the network by 2030, subject to government support. This includes an improved banking offering and a modern “low-risk” IT system to address long-standing technological issues. Railton described the process as “right-sizing” the organization to better meet future requirements.
Community dependence on the post office increased
As bank branch closures mount across the UK, post offices have become essential for cash and banking services in local communities. Lockdowns, if they continue, will disproportionately affect rural and urban communities where alternatives are limited. In July alone, more than £3.7 billion was withdrawn or deposited at post offices, highlighting their crucial role.
Community advocates, such as Martin Quinn of Campaign for Cash, argue that the government should treat the post office network as essential infrastructure. “This is another nail in the coffin for communities that rely on the Post Office for money,” he warned, urging the government to halt the closures.
The Government has held “positive” discussions with Railton, with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds suggesting Post Office branches could step in to fill the gaps left by bank closures. However, with the rapid rise of digital banking, the viability of a high street-based strategy remains uncertain.
Separately, ministers are considering transferring ownership of the Post Office to subpostmasters to protect local services. A government spokesperson said: “We are in active discussions with Nigel Railton to strengthen the network for a sustainable future.”
Impact on local jobs and services
The proposed closure list includes branches across the UK, from major city centers to rural areas, affecting cities such as Glasgow, Oxford, London Bridge and Stornoway. The Post Office stressed that it has no plans to reduce its overall network of more than 8,500 independently run branches. However, CWU officials argue that the move risks further alienating communities that rely on the post office network.
Here is a complete list of branches affected by the Post Office’s closure plans:
Antrim
Bangor
Belfast City
City of Edinburgh
Glasgow
Haddington
Inverness
Kirkwall
Londonderry
Newtownards
Coats
Springburn Road
Stornoway
Wester Hills
Barnes Green
Bransholm
Bridlington
Chester Law Street
Cross gates
Eccles
Furnace House
Grimsby
Hyde
Kendall
Manchester
Morecambe
Morley
Bolton le Fylde
Prestwich
Rotherham
City of Salford
City of Sheffield
South Shields
St. John’s
Sunderland City
Markets
Birmingham
Brick Road
Carnarvon
Didsbury village
Harlesden
Kettering
Kingsbury
for me
Leighton Buzzard
Matlock
Milton Keynes
Northolt
Old swan
Oswestry
Oxford
Redditch
Southall
St. Peters Street
Stamford
Stockport
Wealdstone
Barnett
City of Cambridge
Canning Town
Cricklewood
Dereham
Golders Green
Hampstead
Harold Hill
Kilburn
Kingsland High Street
Lower Edmonton
Roman road
South Ockendon
Stamford Hill
Bedford
Dunraven Place
Gloucester
Liskeard
Merthyr Tydfil
Motley
Nailsea
Newquay
Benton
Port Talbot
Stroud
Teignmouth
Yat Sudbury
Baker Street
Bexhill-on-Sea
Cosham
Great Portland Street
Croydon High Street (10)
Kensington
Knightsbridge
Melville Road
Paddington Pier
Portsmouth
Raines Park
symbolic
Westbourne
Windsor
End of worlds
Aldwych
Brixton
Broadway
City of London
Clapham Common
East Dulwich
Eccleston Street
Hi Holborn
houndsditch
Islington
Kennington Park
London Bridge
Lupus Street
Mount Pleasant
Vauxhall Bridge Road