By Chris Story

Last updated 11:11, Friday, 14 March 2008

POST Office chiefs have been warned of the potentially devastating impact of shutting branches in rural Cumbria.

An announcement is expected next week that up to 50 outlets in the county are to be axed.

Post Office bosses want to shut 2,500 branches nationwide in an attempt to stem losses of £4 million a week. But they have been warned that the impact of small office closures could be devastating, especially in Cumbria’s fragile rural communities.

Voluntary Action Cumbria, which supports some of the county’s most isolated communities, has held talks with parish councillors and rural residents to see how they can help affected areas. Chief executive Roger Roberts believes the social and economic impact of any closures cannot be underestimated.

He said: “For many, it is the final piece of the fragile glue that keeps the community together. Over decades, we have seen the steady closure of village shops, pubs, garages and rural primary schools.

“In many places, the post office and village shop is the place where people have the opportunity to meet, chat, exchange news and maintain relationships with neighbours and friends. It has an enormous impact on the social fabric of the place that keeps it vibrant and living.”

Mr Roberts, who is sceptical about how much the money the closures will save, fears that people having to travel greater distances to their nearest branch could have a financial impact on the scores of businesses in isolated parts of the county.

More than 2,000 people in Carlisle have signed a petition against the closures. City councillor John Stevenson, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Carlisle, distributed it in the city’s 20-plus post offices and says the response shows the strength of opposition.

He said: “This varies. Some will take the opportunity for retirement if they get it, but some see it as a serious challenge to their business. Quite a lot get their trade on the back of the post office. The post office itself might not well be that profitable, but put it with a general store or newsagent’s and it can be the ideal business.”

And despite the pressure on them, many sub-postmasters have been unable to speak about the threat to their businesses because of a confidentiality clause with their bosses.

Post Office chiefs, who say they need changes to put their network on a stable footing, will reveal on Tuesday which Cumbrian branches they plan to close. Public consultation into the proposals will take place until May 27 before a final decision is made several weeks later.

Carlisle Labour MP Eric Martlew this week wrote to county council chief executive Peter Stybelski suggesting it follow the example of Essex, where the local authority is taking over closure-threatened offices.

A spokesman, however, said they had no plans to go down that route because they did not believe that approach was sustainable.

CStory@cngroup.co.uk