UK rural post offices on the point of closure could be safeguarded by allowing courier and expressfirms, as well as Royal Mail companies, to use them as parcel drop-off points.
Leading express company TNT has suggested that village post offices could earn life-savingsupplementary revenue by handling the non-delivered packages of private express firms, saving thecourier companies the bother and expense of returning to re-deliver goods. Currently, only RoyalMail and its Parcelforce business have access to the network of rural post offices.
Nigel Barton, operations director for TNT Express in the UK, said the idea would providemultiple benefits for both rural postmasters, delivery companies, customers and the environment.“At a time when the very existence of rural post offices is in question this would provide themwith a source of supplementary revenue, increase the efficiency levels of delivery companies,provide convenient access for the collection of parcels and packages and reduce the number ofvehicle movements required to try and re-deliver goods.”
The proposal comes at a time when the Government is considering reducing the GBP 150 millionannual subsidy given to help support loss-making rural post offices.
