Item no E8. 3

EDI NBVRG H+ THE CITY OF COUNCIL

Post office closures in Edinburgh and the impact on communities

The City of Edinburgh Council

18 September 2008

1 Purpose of report

1.I This report details the Edinburgh post offices that are announced for intended closure and the likely impact on communities. A submission from the Council to Post Office Ltd is proposed.

2 Summary

2.1 Post offices are considered to be an integral part of Edinburgh’s local communities, offering an important local service for all residents, particularly those that are older, less mobile and affected by multiple deprivation. Closure of any post office in Edinburgh will mean that residents will have greater difficulty in accessing Post Office services.

2.2 On 19 August 2008, Post Office Ltd (POL) released details of proposed post office closures for Area Plan 6 - Edinburgh, the Lothians and South of Scotland. In Edinburgh, the 13 post offices proposed for closure are:

0 Broomhall 0 Longstone

Calder Crossway 0 Magdalene Drive

0 0 Nicolson Street

0 0 Toll

0 Elm Row 0 Shandon Place

0 Goldenacre 0 Warrender Park

2.3 For the Plan as a whole, 18% of the network is proposed for closure, whereas in Edinburgh, the 13 post offices are the equivalent to 16.5% of the network.

2.4 At the Council meeting of 21 August, a motion was agreed which condemned the latest round of post office closures and resolved to formally support affected local communities by responding to each consultation and opposing closures where this was in accordance with the local view. At the post office closures cross party group meeting on 22 August, the view was expressed that all closures should be opposed, although consideration should be given to the likely differential impact of closures on different communities.

2.5 There are three post offices (Calder Crossway, Cramond, and Magdalene Drive) identified as serving vulnerable communities and so are priorities for saving from closure.

2.6 It is proposed that this report be submitted as the Council’s submission on the closures.

3 Main report

Background

3.1 The Council has received previously four reports on the current post office closures programme. The first, in August 2007, provided detailed analysis of the present coverage of post offices in Edinburgh related to social need. A joint motion was agreed at the meeting calling on the Council to do all that it could to support the post office network. A second report, in November 2007, responded to the motion through considering a range of council business. The report concluded that there were no practical options to take forward and that the cost implication of transferring any business was prohibitive. A third report, in May 2008, updated on the outcome of a cross-party meeting with representatives of POL, and latest developments nationally. A motion was also supported to obtain further information on Essex County Council’s efforts to take over post offices. A fourth report, in June 2008, responded to this motion.

3.2 On 19 August 2008, POL released details of the post offices that it proposes to close in Edinburgh. There is a six week consultation period in which submissions on the closures can be made to POL, i.e. ending 29 September 2008. All post offices identified for closure will display details of the consultation process, including how the public can submit their views. Information on the proposed closures has also been forwarded to the Edinburgh Partnership, Neighbourhood Partnerships and community based organisations, encouraging responses to be submitted to POL.

3.3 POL will only take into consideration submissions that include additional information about usage of a post office that, for example, highlights a shortfall in their own information. Also, any post office that is withdrawn from the closures list during the course of the area plan, will have to be replaced by an alternative post office from within that same area plan.

3.4 During the pre consultation phase changes were made to POL’s proposals for Edinburgh. These changes were made as a result of a combination of feed- back provided by Postwatch Scotland and POL’Sown investigations. Postwatch Scotland scrutinised POL’s proposals, checked data for accuracy and ensured that POL follow Government guidelines. Particular attention was paid to the needs of disadvantaged sections of society. Furthermore, joint meetings chaired by COSLA/Postwatch to assist local authorities have taken place at which advice relating to best practice on submissions to POL has been conveyed. 3.5 Considering all of Area Plan Scotland 6, there will be 58 closures from a total of 321 post offices (1 16 urban and 205 rural). This represents an 18% closure rate, which is within POL’s target range of 18% (+/- 5%) per Plan. Furthermore, 32 of the proposed closures (57%) are planned to be replaced by Hosted Outreach services which are not applicable to Edinburgh.

3.6 The proposed closure of 13 post offices in Edinburgh, out of a total of 79, equates to 16.5%, which is slightly lower than the average for the Area Plan. Should any Edinburgh post offices be removed from the closures list, it is likely that any replacement post offices would be from within Edinburgh.

3.7 POL’s accessibility model assumes that 93% of customers will migrate to their nearest branch or to a ‘receiving branch’. POL estimates that approximately 7% of customers may have to change the post office that they use after the plan is implemented, and that overall business lost as a result of the proposed ‘closures will be in the region of 12%.

3.8 Although all 13 proposed Edinburgh post office closures are opposed in principle, there are three (Calder Crossway, Cramond, and Magdalene Drive) that have been identified as serving vulnerable communities and so are profiled as being of even greater concern and priority for saving from closure. The closure of these three post offices would most likely have a disproportionate impact on the populations they serve, due to the relatively high concentrations of vulnerable people living within these communities. Summary profiles are provided below: -

Calder Crossway post office is located in one of the highest areas of deprivation in Edinburgh. Around 40% of the population live in rented social housing; 50% of households have no car and one-fifth of people have a limiting long term illness (2001 Census). The nearest branch to which customers are expected to travel is almost one mile away in , with one bus service operating every 45 minutes. Large numbers of the local population have poor health that is likely to limit their mobility, as well as other more general pressures such as limited finances impacting on payment for travel, and possibly caring responsibilities for other family members. The prospect of travel to Wester Hailes is therefore likely to be difficult and costly for some of the most vulnerable members of the community. (The proposed closure of this branch is identified by Postwatch Scotland as being of particular concern (see below)).

ii) Cramond post office serves a prosperous local population. The concern with the closure of this outlet is that there is a large concentration of older people, with one quarter of the population being over retirement age (2001 Census). The nearest branch is one mile away at Barnton, with two bus services operating every 30 or 15 minutes. Although Barnton post office is reasonably accessible by public transport, there are concerns that some older people who may be frail and with limited mobility, will find this additional journey to a post office difficult. iii) Magdalene Drive serves a community experiencing deprivation, with 22% living in social housing, 38% of households having no car and 20% of people having a limiting long term illness (2001 Census). The nearest branch is Milton Road West which is half a mile away and to which a regular bus service operates, although for people with mobility difficulties and other limiting factors, travel is likely to be a difficult experience.

3.9 Postwatch Scotland, having had opportunity to scrutinise POL’S proposals prior to the release of the Area Plan, published a pre-Public Consultation Position statement detailing concerns with six Edinburgh post offices listed for closure. The impact of closures on remaining branches is the main concern of Postwatch Scotland, though with Calder Crossway the impact on the deprived community is a concern, as it is for the Council. Postwatch Scotland’s comments are summarised below:

Calder Crossway - This branch is located in a severely urban deprived area between Sighthill and Wester Hailes. The branch is being run down and the shop in which it is located has ceased to trade other than as a post office. The nearest branch at Wester Hailes is nearly a mile away, though accessible easily by bus, as is the other alternative at Sighthill. Whilst regeneration is taking place in the area it is not clear at this time what the future holds for the shopping parade. ii ) Elm Row - closure would leave a gap in service in the New Town for which the nearest alternatives do not satisfactorily compensate. The St James Centre is the nearest branch that is not easily accessed, particularly by car drivers unless entering the car park, nor is there any indication from the street of its presence or location. The branches at Walk and Norton Park serve quite different communities. iii) Gorgie - The nearest branch at (ASDA superstore) is rated highly and is reasonably accessible. There are concerns, however, about its capacity to accommodate migrating business, including that resulting from the closure also of the Longstone branch (see below). The exceptionally long opening hours of Chesser (84 hrs per week), would help mitigate the capacity issue, though to what extent is unknown at this stage. iv) Longstone - The pearest branch is at Sighthill, though it is likely that much of the migratiqn would be to the branch at Chesser. There are concerns about its capacity to accommodate migrating business in addition to that resulting from the closure also of the Gorgie branch.

v) Nicolson Street - closure would remove an important and busy branch (1 500-1999 CS per week) in the city centre. vi) Warrender Park - This is a fairly large branch serving a significant young single and student population. Migration is likely to be to several alternatives including Tollcross, , Grange Road and Newington. 3.10 For Edinburgh the Plan indicates 30 main ‘Receiving Branches’, Le. those that POL’s model calculated are likely to receive at least an additional 100 customer sessions per week, and at least a 10% increase in customer footfall. Site visits by Postwatch Scotland to the branches to which business is likely to migrate, found deficiencies in nearest and receiving branches. (The Branch Survey Forms provided with the plan by POL note many of these shortfalls).

3.1 1 The following potential receiving branches are not fully Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant and the expectation by Postwatch Scotland is that their accessibility would be improved prior to any proposed closure:

0 Milton Road West; ; and St John’s Road.

3.10 The following branches have poor retail standards (scoring low in POL’s own branch survey) and it is expected that improvements will be made prior to any closures:

Milton Road West; 0 Warriston; 0 Gt Junction St.; 0 Tollcross; 0 Chesser; and 0 St John’s Rd.;

4 Conclusions

4.1 Of Edinburgh’s 79 post offices, 13 have been identified for closure, and all proposed closures are roundly condemned. Particular attention is drawn to the proposed closure of the three post offices that service vulnerable communities: Calder Crossway, Cramond and Magdalene Drive.

4.2 Post offices are considered to be an integral part of Edinburgh’s communities, offering an important local service to residents. The closure of any post office in Edinburgh is particularly likely to impact negatively on the most vulnerable members of communities because they experience greater difficulty in accessing services.

4.3 The analysis undertaken by Postwatch Scotland and reported above is endorsed by the Council, particularly the concerns expressed over the impact on the vulnerable and how the capacity of other branches to take on additional customers may result in a deterioration of service.

5 Financial Implications

5.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report. 6 Recommendations

6.1 It is recommended that the Council:-

(i) notes the post offices proposed for closure;

(ii) notes that Calder Crossway, Cramond and Magdalene Drive post offices are priorities for saving; and

(iii) agrees to the submission of this report as the Council’s response #Q Post /- Office Ltd. / ‘\

Director of Corpoyfe

Appendices Map of Edinburgh Post Offices with proposed closures (available in group rooms)

Contact/teI/Em Sian Millard, [email protected] ail Tel469 3605

Wards City Wide affected

Background Postwatch Scotland Pre-Public Consultation Position Statement Area Papers Plan Scotland 6 - Edinburgh, the Lothians and South of Scotland Post Office Closures: Update on Essex County Council’s support for Post Office outlets and its applicability to Edinburgh Report to City of Edinburgh Council on 26 June 2007. Post Office Closures: Update Report to City of Edinburgh Council on 1 May 2007. Post Office Closures Report to City of Edinburgh Council on 23 August 2007. Post Office Closures: Update Report to City of Edinburgh Council on 22 November 2007.