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Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern‚ said:

“This is not just a win for the Post Office‚ it’s a win for the 2 million pensioners who have a Post Office Card Account and the many more for whom their local Post Office is a lifeline. Many older people rely on the Post Office as a one-stop shop to not only access cash and benefits‚ but to pay bills‚ get advice and information‚ and socialise.

“This announcement has averted a further decimating round of closures‚ and will allow older account holders to continue to benefit from the secure service and access to highly trained staff that they currently value.”

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Notes to editors

• Age Concern research carried out before the current closure programme‚ showed 76% of older people were worried about losing essential services if their Post Office is forced to close
• 73% feel that they wouldn’t be able to access similar services in their local area
• 88% would have to make special travel arrangements to reach alternative services
• One third of rural householders find it difficult to get to a Post Office after their local branch is closed
• Despite the recent closure programme‚ there remain far more Post Offices in villages than banks

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