Post office closures 'will impact on business'

Government plans to close a number of post offices across the country have been slammed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The body is calling for politicians to "take every possible step" to prevent widespread closures.

Criticism from the FSB came after a survey revealed that 82 per cent of small business owners claimed that the closure of their local post office would have a "significant" impact on them.

John Wright, FSB national chairman said: "This is about more than just the post office network. Each post office generates footfall for other local shops and businesses. We already face the loss of up to 50,000 small shops by 2015. The prospect of additional post office closures is yet another nail in the coffin of our local high streets."

Mr Wright expressed concern that successive governments have reduced the role of post offices and adds that the UK is facing the loss of a vital network.

The federation recently launched it Keep Trade Local campaign, aimed at preventing unfair competition from large supermarkets.