TWO of the region’s biggest Post Office branches have been earmarked for closure.

The Crown Post Offices in Consett and Billingham are included on a list of 37 directly-managed branches set to close over the coming year, subject to consultation.

Instead, the Post Office wants to relocate services into nearby shops under franchise arrangements, which will be more sustainable in the long run, and says it is now hopes to “identify the right partners” to press ahead with the plans.

But MPs and unions have reacted with dismay to the announcement. Pat Glass MP, whose North West Durham constituency covers the Consett Post Office in Victoria Road, said: “Consett Post Office is centrally located, extremely well used and an important part of the identity of the town.

“I understand the Post Office's policy of co-locating Post Offices in retail situations, but it is inconceivable that a town as large as Consett should have its Post Office co-located in a shop.”

Alex Cunningham MP said the potential closure of the Billingham Post Office in Queensway was the latest to hit his Stockton North constituency, following the relocation of the Norton branch and downgrading of the Stockton branch.

He said: “It is disappointing that, one by one, they are picking them off, dumping services into local retail shops and people to do not get the same level of service.

“What I want to see is a commitment from the Post Office that anyone who takes on the franchise will provide the same range of services as exist at Billingham now.”

Around 400 jobs will be lost across the country as part of the proposed shake-up and the Communication Workers Union, which represents seven staff at Billingham and six at Consett, said it would campaign against the closures.

Union general secretary Dave Ward said: “The latest round of closures is further evidence that the Post Office is in crisis and that the board of the company, backed by the government, is simply pursuing a strategy of slash and burn.

“Today’s announcement comes less than three weeks after the closure of a major government consultation on the future of the Post Office and sticks two fingers up to everyone who took part in this."

However, the Post Office said it was committed to mainlining its “special place on the high street” and remained committed to providing essential services to communities across the country through its 11,600 branches.

Sales and Trade Marketing Director Roger Gale added: “The vast majority of these branches are run with partners, and in the locations announced today we believe this will also be a more sustainable approach for the long term.

“With consumer habits changing, and the high cost of maintaining premises in prime high street locations, franchising helps us to keep services where our customers want and need them.

“We will take time to identify the right partners over the coming months and all proposals will be subject to local consultation”.

“Post Office has a strong record of supporting people through change and we will be keeping affected staff fully informed as we develop our plans.”

Malcolm Clarke, who is standing as a Labour candidate in Delves Lane ward at the May local elections, said: "This is a big blow and I am very disappointed by the news.

"Consett Post Office's dedicated staff are usually operating at least five desks and still there are queues most of the time".

He added: "I cannot believe that the office in Consett is not profitable, but then there is a history of profitable things being closed in Consett by national corporations.

"I hope all staff can be retained and a suitable alternative site found, however, far better would be to leave things as they are.

"The Post Office is well-used, depended upon by hundreds of pensioners who collect their pension there and have done for years and it is cited in an ideal central location as it has been for decades".