Dear Customer
 

Post Office® Dent branch

Main Street, Dent, Sedbergh, LA10 SQL

As you may be aware, in December 2006 the Government initiated a national public consultation on a range of proposed measures to modernise and reshape the Post Office® network ("the Network") and put it on a more stable footing. The consultation was undertaken against the backdrop of falling customer numbers, decline in traditional services such as Government based business, changing consumer behaviour and losses in the Network in excess of £3m a week before Government support.
 

In its Response to that consultation (published in May 2007) ("the Response Document') the Government announced the proposed compulsory compensated closure of up to 2 500 branches (out of a current Network of around 14.300 branches), with the introduction of about 500 Outreach service points to mitigate the impact of the proposed closures.

In conjunction with the introduction of strict minimum access criteria, as set out in the Response Document, the Government is proposing an investment of up to £1 7bn as a funding package to underpin these changes and to support the reshaped Network in the future. A copy of the Response Document can be found at. www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page36024.html.

In order to deliver the changes set out in the Response Document. Post Office Ltd is now implementing its "Network Change Programme ("the Programme ) and in doing so has divided the United Kingdom into 47 areas ("Areas'). A local area plan ("Area Plan") will be prepared for each Area detailing the changes that Post Office Ltd is proposing to make within it. Each proposed Area Plan will be subject to a twelve week intensive pre-public consultation process which will involve a substantial amount of local stakeholder engagement, including extensive discussions with Postwatch the independent consumer watchdog for postal services. This will be followed by a six week local public consultation which will provide an opportunity for those that are interested in or likely to be affected by any of the proposed changes to give their views on the proposals for the future provision of Post Office services

in that Area.

Outreach services are an innovative way to continue to provide Post Office® services in some areas where we may need to close a Post Office branch.

Outreach is a means by which Post Office® products and services are provided by a 'core subpostmaster (who already operates a Post Office branch in a community) to outlying communities. Outreach builds on Post Office Ltd's experience of successfully operating over 250 satellite branches since 2000 and has been tried and tested in a number of pilot schemes. There are currently four different Outreach models: the Mobile Service, the Hosted Service, the Partner Service and the Home Service. Details of the current Outreach models are set out below.

The Mobile Service is a travelling Post Office® situated within a van operated by the core subpostmaster or his assistants that will visit small communities at set times and days each week to deliver certain Post Office® products and services to customers.

The Hosted Service is a fixed site Post Office® branch from which the core subpostmaster or his assistants transact certain Post Office products and services during restricted hours each week. The premises are owned by a third party; for example, a shop or community centre.

The Partner Service is a fixed site Post Office® where a local partner (such as a pub landlord) appointed by the core subpostmaster, transacts certain Post Office products and services from the partner s own premises during the opening hours of the partner's business.

The Home Service is a service for very small communities whereby the core subpostmaster delivers a reduced range of Post Office products and services which are ordered over the telephone by customers. The products may either be delivered to the customer s home or at a local drop-in session. There will not be a physical Post Office® building in the community.

As part of the Area Plan for Cumbria, Post Office Ltd is proposing to close Dent Post Office® branch on a permanent basis and to mitigate the impact of the proposed closure we propose to put in place a Hosted Service. Full details of the Area Plan are available on our website www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or by contacting us at the address below. In proposing that this branch should close. Post Office Ltd has taken into account that as well as using the proposed Outreach service customers would be able to access Post Office® services from other branches.

In addition to accessing Post Office® services from the proposed outreach service and from other branches, customers may also access Post Office services by telephone or via the Internet.

Any changes to the Network that are made under the Programme will be implemented in accordance with a Code of Practice that has been agreed with Postwatch.

If the decision is taken to permanently close this branch and to put in place the Outreach service mentioned above then we expect that this would take place in July 2008, at the earliest. We will communicate our decision about the future of this branch and the proposed Outreach service after the end of the local public

consultation period, once all representations have been reviewed.

It is important to us that you understand the reasoning behind our proposal and that you also have the opportunity to comment on our plans. A leaflet answering some of the questions you may have is available within the branch. Should you have any other questions, or wish to make any comments as part of the

consultation process, please contact me as detailed below.

Please note that 27th May 2008 is the dosing date of the local public consultation for this Area and all comments must be received by that date if they are to be considered. Exceptionally, in this instance, we have extended public consultation by 2 working days to allow for the holiday period over Easter. Please note that your comments will not be kept confidential unless you expressly ask us to do so

by clearly marking them 'In Confidence'.

Additionally Post Office Ltd will be suspending consultation activity, including participating in public meetings, and will not announce any final decisions regarding closures or replacement Outreach services from 10th April 2008 until 2nd May 2008. This coincides with the run up to the local elections taking place in England and Wales and is in line with the usual guidelines regarding such elections.

Richard Lynds

Network Development Manager

Post Office Ltd,

FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM

By Email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk

Customer Helpline: 08457 223344

Website: www.postoffice.co.uk

The Post Office® is able to supply customers with this information, free of charge, in an alternative format for people who are visually impaired. To obtain a copy, call the Post Office helpline on 08457 22 33 44 or textphone 08457 22 33 55.

Proposed outreach service: