TROWBRIDGE Post Office is to be privatised as part of plans to close 74 branches and franchise services, it was disclosed tonight (Oct 12).

The announcement was made by the Post Office as part of a nationwide move which will see 40 major Crown Post Offices in large towns and cities close.

The Post Office announced the move, pending a consultation period, with the headline ‘Post Office to expand number of branches in WH Smith Stores’.

The Post Office, which avoided outright privatisation when it split from the Royal Mail under the Coalition Government, already has 135 Post Offices in WH Smith stores.

It was also announced that 33 Post Offices already sited in stores, but operated directly by the Post Office, would transfer to be operated directly by WH Smith, meaning the Post Office workers would become WH Smith employees.

Roger Gale, Post Office network and sales director, said: “WH Smith and Post Office have worked together successfully for more than a decade and our collaboration helps to secure our services on high streets for years to come.

“We’re continuing to respond to unprecedented change on high streets and in consumer trends.

“By adapting to the needs of customers we’re making sure Post Offices will matter as much tomorrow as they do today, with services available when and where people want them, in convenient locations and open for longer hours, including Sundays.

“The vast majority of the Post Office’s network of 11,500 Post Office branches, large and small, are run on a franchise or agency basis with retailers as part of thriving businesses.

“It makes sense to further expand this successful, sustainable way of providing Post Office services to customers.”

The Post Office in Roundstone Street is a much-loved feature of the town centre and has been in its present location for many years.

It is not yet known how many jobs will be at risk but the Communication Workers Union claims that 700 jobs may go nationally as part of the moves.

The CWU’s Bristol & District Branch represents 3,000 workers (postmen and women) in Royal Mail and the Post Office across Bristol and the surrounding area claims this is likely to result in a downgrading of services.

The union is urging residents who use the Post Office to lobby their local MPs and councillors and to protest against the closures.

Rob Wotherspoon, CWU Branch Secretary, said: “Post Office counter clerks are paid £12 per hour but now face being replaced with workers on a minimum wage of £7.83.

“Staff members in this once great public institution have been sounding the alarm for several years that the Post Office is being run into the ground.

“Now they face losing their jobs to be replaced with workers on minimum wage. It is now clear that no office is safe as one-third of the network faces privatisation through the back door.

“Given the recent announcements of WH Smith closures around the country no-one will be reassured that these vital services are safe.

“This year, Post Office executives have awarded themselves huge pay rises – apparently they expect hard-working Post Office members and the public to foot the bill.

“This is privatisation through the back door and there is no doubt now that the Post Office Crown network is facing extinction.

“The elderly and vulnerable people in communities who rely on these services are obviously of no interest to a callous government that has overseen the destruction of this public service over the last eight years.

“We urge people to take part in the public consultation and contact their local councillors and MPs to voice their opposition to this reckless proposal.”