WORCESTERSHIRE MPs have seen confidential papers which show post office closures in the county will be “less dramatic” than expected.

Mike Foster and Sir Michael Spicer have been briefed about the closures in Worcestershire, which will be announced next Wednesday.

Although they cannot divulge any details, they feel reassured by what Post Office officials have told them.

Sir Michael, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “What I can say is that our campaign to protect the future of those post offices that are well used has on the whole been successful.”

Mr Foster, MP for Worcester, said: “The proposals are not as dramatic as some harbingers of doom had put it.”

The closures are part of the network change programme, which involves the compulsory closure of up to 2,500 branches across the country. It is as a result of a public consultation, carried out by the Government, on proposed measures to reshape the post office network. In reaching a decision about which post offices to close, each one has been assessed according to access criteria.

For example one of the criteria is 99 per cent of the UK population should be within three miles of a post office. The provision of public transport is also addressed when reaching a decision.

Mr Foster said: “The way they have been selected is on criteria to do with geography and how far people would have to travel to get to a post office. No campaign that I know of would have made any difference at this stage in the process.”

Some of the closed post offices will be replaced by outreach services.

It is not known if these are planned for Worcestershire.

The services would come as a mobile service similar to a mobile library, a hosted service – where services are offered at an alternative site such as a village hall or doctors’ surgery for a number of hours a week; partner service – services offered by local people; or home delivery.

Peter Luff, MP for Mid-Worcestershire is away until the day of the closures.

What will happen in Worcestershire and Herefordshire?

Wednesday, August 27, post office closures are announced.

Six weeks of public consultation begins.

Tuesday, October 7, end of public consultation.

Final decision about closures in the two counties expected at the end of October.