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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Almost 100 post offices to close | Almost 100 post offices to close |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Almost 100 Post Office branches in Northern Ireland are to be closed as part of a UK-wide restructuring of the company. | Almost 100 Post Office branches in Northern Ireland are to be closed as part of a UK-wide restructuring of the company. |
| The Post Office said 42 branches would close and 54 would operate through "a form of outreach service". | The Post Office said 42 branches would close and 54 would operate through "a form of outreach service". |
| Sheila McCann of the Post Office said closing any Post Office branch was very difficult and of concern to customers. | Sheila McCann of the Post Office said closing any Post Office branch was very difficult and of concern to customers. |
| The Rural Community Network said it was clear that the future of rural postal services needed to be planned. | The Rural Community Network said it was clear that the future of rural postal services needed to be planned. |
| Some branches will be replaced with community services. This could mean a mobile Post Office visiting at set times, a service within community centres, local shops or a home service using a phone. | Some branches will be replaced with community services. This could mean a mobile Post Office visiting at set times, a service within community centres, local shops or a home service using a phone. |
| Rural post offices provide a vital service for sections of the community Michael HughesRural Community Network List of branches to close Ms McCann said: "We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the changes we are proposing to meet UK government requirements and is able to give their views on them. | Rural post offices provide a vital service for sections of the community Michael HughesRural Community Network List of branches to close Ms McCann said: "We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the changes we are proposing to meet UK government requirements and is able to give their views on them. |
| "Post Office Ltd must reduce the number of branches. The purpose of this public consultation is to ensure that we have the best available local knowledge to allow us to make the most informed decisions about which branches should close or be replaced by an outreach service." | "Post Office Ltd must reduce the number of branches. The purpose of this public consultation is to ensure that we have the best available local knowledge to allow us to make the most informed decisions about which branches should close or be replaced by an outreach service." |
| The chief executive of the Rural Community Network, Michael Hughes said: "Rural post offices provide a vital service for sections of the community, particularly for older people, those with poor literacy and numeracy skills, lone parents, those on benefits and newcomers such as the migrant population. | |
| "The changes proposed will particularly impact on those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged and it is vital that their voices are heard during the consultation period." | "The changes proposed will particularly impact on those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged and it is vital that their voices are heard during the consultation period." |