Royal Mail warns of more PO closures (From Bucks Free Press)

Royal Mail warns of more PO closures

9:29am Wednesday 2nd March 2005 in News By Kris Hall

ROYAL Mail has warned it may have to close further post offices unless restrictions on operations are relaxed.

Without the changes, it is claimed, plans to open the postal network to outside competition next year will threaten the company's guarantee to deliver to every home at the same price.

Last year High Wycombe lost eight sub-post offices under Post Office Ltd's network reinvention scheme, aimed at streamlining the service.

A spokesman said the company, which handles more than 80 million letters a day, currently loses about £247 million every year on personal stamped mail.

Senior figures and union leaders are concerned that, under current rules, rivals will be able to undercut Royal Mail's prices.

Royal Mail wants more flexibility to the prices it can charge.

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: "Threatening the service is not what anyone wants."