For many communities across rural Britain, the local Post Office is more than a place to post a letter or pay a bill, it is the heartbeat of village life. From the last shop in town to a hub for social connection, these branches play an essential role in keeping communities connected, supporting local businesses, and sustaining rural economies.

The Countryside Alliance has today (Monday 6 October, 2025) responded to the government’s Green Paper on the future of the Post Office, welcoming the vision to modernise the network but warning that rural communities must not be left behind.

“Rural Post Offices are lifelines for our villages and small towns,” said Sarah Lee, Director of Policy at the Countryside Alliance.

“They provide essential services, help drive local business, and bring communities together. Modernisation must not come at the expense of the very people who rely on these services most.”

Research shows that around 14% of Post Offices in rural areas are the only retail outlet in their community, and nearly four in ten households see their Post Office as a centre of social life. Post Offices also support small businesses, with 65% of SMEs using them monthly, generating an estimated £3.1 billion in additional local spending. Post Offices also make a vital social contribution to the fabric of the UK, collectively worth over £6.5 billion to households and SMEs each year.

The Countryside Alliance is calling on the government to:

• Maintain the 11,500 minimum branches and the Access Criteria to guarantee nationwide coverage.
• Continue or increase funding for rural branches to ensure sustainable service.
• Protect sub-postmasters through fair remuneration, support, and accountability.
• Implement any modernisation gradually, avoiding service gaps or “deserts” in remote communities.

The Alliance stresses that innovation and digital services can complement—but not replace—the human-led services that rural communities rely on every day.

“Every rural community deserves access to a Post Office they can depend on,” Sarah Lee added. “These branches are more than businesses, they are the backbone of village life, supporting people, livelihoods, and local economies across the country.”

You can read our full response here.