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A third of post offices may close A third of post offices may close
(about 1 hour later)
As many as 200 post offices in Northern Ireland may be earmarked for closure after a UK-wide shake-up on Thursday. As many as 200 post offices in Northern Ireland may be earmarked for closure after a major shake-up of services.
Wendy Cairns, of the Northern Ireland Federation of Subpostmasters, says "it's now about securing the 300 or so post offices that remain after today".Wendy Cairns, of the Northern Ireland Federation of Subpostmasters, says "it's now about securing the 300 or so post offices that remain after today".
Stormont could be the key to saving what post offices remain after the anticipated cuts are announced. Stormont could be key to saving what post offices remain after the UK-wide cuts were announced on Thursday.
"Our MLAs, by giving us admin work such as dog licensing or just general form checking, could prove vital," she said."Our MLAs, by giving us admin work such as dog licensing or just general form checking, could prove vital," she said.
Trade Secretary Alistair Darling confirmed plans for the closure of somewhere in the region of two-and-a-half thousand post offices across the UK.
However, the exact of closures and where in Northern Ireland will not be known for some time.
Mr Darling said 4 million fewer customers were using post offices every week than two years ago and it was losing £4m a week.
There are approximately 540 post offices at present in Northern Ireland, with many, especially rural ones, seen as being at the heart of communities.There are approximately 540 post offices at present in Northern Ireland, with many, especially rural ones, seen as being at the heart of communities.
Ms Cairns, who is subpostmistress at Dunmurry Post Office, continued: "Two hundred is a figure that's been threw up in the air but with regards to Northern Ireland I think that could be fair enough. Ms Cairns, who is subpostmistress at Dunmurry Post Office, continued: "Two hundred is a figure that's been threw up in the air but with regards to Northern Ireland I think that could be fair enough."
We won't by the end of today have a figure or the names of the post offices set to close in Northern Ireland Royal Mail spokeswoman A spokesman for Royal Mail in Northern Ireland said: "The Government has now come to a decision about the future shape and size of the UK's Post Office network.
A spokeswoman for Royal Mail in Northern Ireland said: "We can't start developing proposals in response to today's anticipated decision until the announcement is actually made." "Post Office Ltd's task now is to look carefully at the strict criteria set by the Government and plan how best to implement them across the country.
"Furthermore, we won't by the end of today have a figure or the names of the post offices set to close in Northern Ireland, these could take some time." "In doing that we will work very closely with Postwatch, the body representing Post Office users, both to plan for an accessible and sustainable network based on the criteria, and to consult and inform local users about the changes taking place as a result of the Government decision."
Trade Secretary Alistair Darling is later expected to confirm plans for the closure of somewhere in the region of two-and-a-half thousand post offices across the UK.