COUNCILLORS are to question the planned widespread closures of post offices in Huddersfield.

Members of Kirklees's Overview and Scrutiny Committee meet tomorrow morning to hear why the Post Office wants to close a further 10 offices in the town, after seven had already shut.

The public is free to go to the meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall and may be allowed to ask questions.

The meeting is part of Post Office consultation on the plans, which have met harsh criticism from Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, councillors and the town's pensioners, for whom the branches are a vital lifeline.

Golcar is to lose two of its three offices while others will close in Rawthorpe, Primrose Hill, Leeds Road, Hillhouse, Greenside, Berry Brow, Elland and Rastrick.

It is hoped a Post Office representative will be at tomorrow's meeting to outline reasons for the cuts.

Scrutiny committee chairman Clr Andrew Palfreeman said the closures were almost inevitable.

He added: "It's not so much consultation as them coming to explain what is going to happen. It appears we have no chance of changing anything."

Last year the Post Office network lost £194m. Countrywide, it is anticipated 3,000 the 17,000 remaining branches will be shut by December, 2004.