THE names and locations of Post Offices earmarked for closure in North Kirklees will be revealed next week.

As part of a government campaign to close 2,500 branches nationally, several branches in North Kirklees could be forced to close in addition to those that have already shut.

Branches in Dewsbury, Batley and Spen will be among those named by the Post Office as suitable for closure.

Residents then have six weeks to have their say during a public consultation exercise.

The public consultation into closures in Huddersfield and the Colne Valley is not expected to begin until August 8.

Council leader Clr Robert Light said they would back residents over the closures.

Clr Light said: “I am worried about what could happen when the first of our possible closures are announced.

“I am fearful there could be a huge raft of closures, not just within Kirklees but on the borders of other areas which could affect Kirklees residents.

“We as a council are very concerned but, like everyone else, we do not know which branches are listed for closure. Although it is not our role as a council to maintain the Post Offices, we will be objecting.

“We will also be looking to see if there are ways of keeping the branches open and to maintain the service for the community.”

The Government announced last year that 2,500 of the country’s 14,000 Post Offices could close as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

They say the closures are needed because of rising losses caused by fewer people using the branches.

Once the closures are all complete, the Post Office and government say that 99% of the UK population will still live within three miles of their nearest branch.

A spokesman for Postwatch, the industry’s watchdog, said: “Whilst Postwatch cannot stop closures from happening, we will investigate every proposal to ensure that customers’ reasonable access to post office services is retained.”

Post offices in Primrose Hill, Berry Brow, Taylor Hill, Rawthorpe, Greenside, Hillhouse, Crosland Moor, Longroyd Bridge and Lowerhouses have closed in recent years.