The Post Office is due to announce the first 180 branches earmarked for closure under its plan to shut 2,500 by the end of next year.
The Post Office is due to announce the first 180 branches earmarked for closure under its plan to shut 2,500 by the end of next year.
Six-week public consultations will start over the planned closures in Kent, East Yorks and the East Midlands.
Six-week public consultations will start over the planned closures in Kent, East Yorks and the East Midlands.
Consultations will eventually be held in all affected areas before the final decisions are made.
Consultations will eventually be held in all affected areas before the final decisions are made.
The government says cuts are needed as the current 14,000-strong network has been losing £4m a week.
The government says cuts are needed as the current 14,000-strong network has been losing £4m a week.
Consumer watchdog Postwatch said closures were bad news but it accepted the current network was unsustainable.
Consumer watchdog Postwatch said closures were bad news but it accepted the current network was unsustainable.
New products
New products
The government said four million fewer people were using post offices each week than two years ago and losses had risen from £2 million a week in 2005 to £4 million a week last year.
The government said four million fewer people were using post offices each week than two years ago and losses had risen from £2 million a week in 2005 to £4 million a week last year.
It also pointed out that, on average, fewer than 16 people a week used the 800 smallest rural post offices, at a cost of £17 per visit to the taxpayer.
It also pointed out that, on average, fewer than 16 people a week used the 800 smallest rural post offices, at a cost of £17 per visit to the taxpayer.
The government decided in December that 2,500 closures were required because of the Post Office's losses.
The government decided in December that 2,500 closures were required because of the Post Office's losses.
It said at the time that it wanted to help the Post Office modernise, restore profitability in its main offices, invest in new products and look at innovative ways to deliver services.
It said at the time that it wanted to help the Post Office modernise, restore profitability in its main offices, invest in new products and look at innovative ways to deliver services.
On Tuesday, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said it would provide funding of "up to £1.7bn until 2011 to continue to support the network" and to enable the Post Office "to modernise and rationalise".
On Tuesday, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said it would provide funding of "up to £1.7bn until 2011 to continue to support the network" and to enable the Post Office "to modernise and rationalise".
Access criteria
Access criteria
Post Office managing director Alan Cook said taking the decision to close any branch was always "very difficult".
Post Office managing director Alan Cook said taking the decision to close any branch was always "very difficult".
It is now vital that the programme's overall outcome is the best possible for customers Postwatch
It is now vital that the programme's overall outcome is the best possible for customers Postwatch
"Post Office Ltd's aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the very strict minimum access criteria set by the government."
"Post Office Ltd's aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the very strict minimum access criteria set by the government."
Postwatch chairwoman Millie Banerjee said it agreed it was better to plan ahead for closures.
Postwatch chairwoman Millie Banerjee said it agreed it was better to plan ahead for closures.
"It is now vital that the programme's overall outcome is the best possible for customers," she added.
"It is now vital that the programme's overall outcome is the best possible for customers," she added.
"That means customer confusion and inconvenience must be minimised, both in terms of the branches proposed for closure and in the consultation process being meaningful and accessible to all."
"That means customer confusion and inconvenience must be minimised, both in terms of the branches proposed for closure and in the consultation process being meaningful and accessible to all."
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