Rural post offices are being safeguarded thanks to a £370 million investment by Government which will help secure the future of village branches across the country.
The announcement of this additional funding by the Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark MP, has been welcomed by local MP Mark Pawsey. This builds on the expansion of Post Office branches in recent years, with more branches open than in 2016.
Alongside this investment, the Post Office will also see new technology and products rolled out to provide a modern service. This includes supporting continued access to banking services through the Post Office’s Banking Framework whereby 99% of individuals and 95% of small businesses can access basic banking arrangements from their local Post Office.
As Rugby and Bulkington’s Member of Parliament, Mark has been involved in local campaigns to support post offices threatened with closure. This included taking Bulkington residents’ concerns to Parliament, where he presented a petition of over 1,500 signatures to save the Post Office branch in Bulkington. This campaign was successful and the Bulkington Post Office is now based in the SPAR shop in the centre of the village.
Mark commented:
“As a predominantly rural constituency, I know that the Post Office plays a vital role throughout Rugby and Bulkington and offers a wide range of valuable services for local people. I know that for elderly residents in particular the Post Office is an integral part of the community which is why I am pleased that we are delivering on our manifesto commitment to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services.”
Mark continued:
“Over 99% of the population lives within 3 miles of a Post Office, making them one of the most important network of shops in the country. This £370 million investment will help to retain these much valued local services and deliver a Post Office service capable of meeting modern demands, including new products and a much more effective digital presence which will be integrated with its branches.”