Final Leeds Crown Post Offices to be offloaded

The last four remaining crown Post Office branches in Leeds will be offloaded, it has been confirmed.

Transcript

00:00The turbulent time in post office history continues with the news that their final crown branches are set to be sold to franchisees.

00:08In Leeds, this includes the St John's Post Office within the St John's Centre off Albion Street,

00:15the Markets Post Office off New York Street, the Cross Gates-Osthorpe Road branch and the Queen Street branch here in Morley,

00:24which are all set to be offloaded.

00:25It comes less than six months after more than 1,000 people backed a campaign to save the Cross Gates branch.

00:32Communities that currently have a directly managed post office branch in their area

00:37will continue to be able to access post office services either at or near to the same location.

00:44Post Office Chair Nigel Railton said that moving to a fully franchised network is one part of enabling the post office

00:51to deliver a new deal for Postmasters, helping to create a long-term sustainable future for the post office.

00:59He added that by franchising these branches, they are protecting access to services for communities right across the UK

01:06and realising £40 million worth of savings that will enable them to uplift Postmasters' remuneration by up to 10%.

01:14He said that over the coming months, the firm will continue to work with unions to ensure they treat staff

01:20working in the 108 branches impacted with care and respect through the transition,

01:26consulting with them on proposed changes.

01:29More details on the future of individual branches will be released in the coming weeks,

01:34with some potentially closing altogether and moving to new premises,

01:37while others could be taken over by other businesses as part of the move,

01:41which is set to be completed by the autumn.