Councillor Susanna Pressel made the comments after the St Aldate’s branch was tipped for closure as part of a Post Office shake-up.
Post Office chairman Nigel Railton made the announcement on Wednesday, November 13 saying the decision came as the group looks to boost postmaster pay by £250 million over five years.
The Post Office revealed it is looking to offload 115 directly-owned branches within its 11,500 network.
This could see these branches transferred to retail partners or postmasters, or potentially closed.
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Susanna Pressel (Image: Oxford City Council) Around 1,000 workers are employed across the 115 Post Office branches that are at risk of closing. These positions are now all under threat.
Reacting to the news Mrs Pressel, ward councillor for Osney & St Thomas, said: “The postal delivery service has been terrible for some years now. If we are in addition going to lose even more of our precious post offices, including the main post office in St Aldate’s, some people will be beside themselves with rage.”
Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, added: “Oxford City Council strongly opposes the proposed closure of the St Aldate’s Post Office.
“This essential facility serves as a crucial resource for local residents and businesses alike, providing vital services that support daily needs of Oxford’s community.
“While we recognise the challenges facing Post Office Ltd, we urge them to reconsider the significant impact of this decision and work with us to explore viable alternatives.”
Katherine Miles, ward councillor for Summertown, said: “It’s a changing business environment for the Post Office and I recognise that, but the need for some demographic segments of Oxford need to be met in terms of close accessibility to postal services.
“At the moment, there are gaps in the provision for alternatives. For instance, in Summertown, we have struggled to find a replacement for the Post Office which was previously hosted by the Co-op, but there wasn’t interest from local businesses to host the service.”
The plans, which are subject to government funding, would see average branch pay doubled by 2030, with £120 million in additional pay by the end of the first year.
Mr Railton said: “The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service and today we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters.
“We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal.”
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About the author
Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government.
He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years.
Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby