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POL is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of 42 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies. The first area plans went out to local consultation on
2 October last year and these plans were rolled out at regular intervals until August, with the whole programme scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. The consultation period for Shropshire and Staffordshire has finished and POL has published its Area Plan Decision Booklet on its website. Having considered all representations and the criteria for the network change programme POL has confirmed that May Bank branch is to close. Further details of the closures are available on the POL website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange.
POL develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also required to consider the availability of public transport and alternative access to key post office services, local demographics and the impact on the local economy. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.
The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices. No decisions on individual Post Offices are taken until after local consultations. Those decisions are made by POL in light of the responses to the consultation while subject to a four-stage appeals process involving Postwatch. The Review Process for closure decisions after public consultation process applies where Postwatch shows that, for an individual branch:
POL has not given due consideration to material evidence received during the public consultation in coming to its decision or;
where evidence emerges from the consultation that the proposal for the branch does not meet the Government's policy requirements.
The aim of the further review process is for POL and Postwatch to reach an agreed way forward by bilateral review with 3 stages available at increasing levels of seniority. An additional stage to the review process was added last November for very difficult cases which remain unresolved after stage 3; in such cases Allan Leighton, Chairman of Royal Mail Group will review the issues and reach a final decision.
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