Mutual ownership plan for post offices moves a step nearer
This article explains how thinking about the re-jigging of the Post Office agenda has been fermenting since Peter Mandelson loosened his grip on the issue just over a year ago.
It reveals “Thousands of post offices could share services in a mutual organisation to save themselves from going out of business, according to a government-sponsored review that has brought a transfer in ownership of the network one step closer.
“In the same way that farmers join co-operatives in order to share expensive services, post offices could opt in to a mutual umbrella organisation, it said.
“The move could prevent a further decline in the number of British post offices, which have already slumped from a high of 18,000 to 11,500 today. Many rural areas have already seen their post offices disappear, while long queues at city centre outlets often deter all but the hardiest from sending parcels or buying stamps.”
Ed Mayo, head of Cooperatives UK, has identified this as an option – there is still much water to flow under the “conceptual bridge” on the idea yet – but I have to admit that at this early stage the headline idea appeals to me.