11:17am Tuesday 1st July 2008
By Sarah Goldthorpe
TEN post offices are facing the axe in West Dorset, it has been revealed.
Details of the future of post office services in Dorset are due to be published on July 15 by the Post Office.
But West Dorset District Council understands the plan could see the closure of about 10 post offices.
The authority is now drawing up plans to help affected communities deal with the change.
Council leader Robert Gould said: "We don't yet know which communities in the district will be affected by post office closures, however, we want to ensure that the impact on those affected is kept to a minimum.
"We are committed to helping to retain rural services in the district and will be working with Post Office Ltd, Post Watch, Dorset Community Action and others to help the affected communities."
Members of the council's executive committee have agreed to hold a special training session for all councillors to help them work with communities hit by the closures.
They have also agreed a £10,000 grant to support a programme that will include the establishment of virtual post offices, satellite post offices with neighbouring communities and working to save general stores where the post offices are lost.
Simon Thompson, fieldworker for community support group Dorset Community Action, said: "We are hopeful that Dorset closures might be lower than average because we are one of the last ones to be announced.
"We certainly welcome the efforts made by West Dorset Partnership to help communities affected by the closures when they come.
"We would like to see that rolled out across the county."
Nationally, some 2,500 post offices are set for closure. It is thought that about 30 will close across Dorset.
Mr Thompson said some villages, including Portesham, had already held meetings about what action they would take if their post office was closed.
There will be a seven-week consultation period after network plans are published by the post office.
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