Fight to stamp out post office closures

THE fight to save under threat post offices in Greater Manchester has begun with the suggestion some could become 'banking hubs' and campaigns and petitions launched urging a reprieve.

- CHRIS GEE

On Wednesday, it was announced that eight post offices in Greater Manchester are at risk of closure as more than 100 branches are set to close across the UK.

The Post Office is looking to offload 115 directly-owned branches within its 11,500 network in a move that could see them transferred to retail partners or postmasters or potentially closed.

Around 1,000 workers are employed at the at-risk branches.

The 115 branches put at risk are larger crown branches, meaning those owned by the company directly. They include branches at Stockport, (Great Underbank); Prestwich, (Kingswood Road); Salford, (Rossall Way); Leigh, (Silk Street); Hyde, (Market Place); Eccles, (Church Street); Didsbury Village, (Albert Hill Street) and Barnes Green (Lee Road, Harpurhey).

Bury South MP Christian Wakeford suggested that some of the affected branches could diversify.