TWO more Fylde post offices could become the latest casualties of government plans to streamline the country's urban postal network.

Postal chiefs announced last Friday June 20 that Great Carleton and Poulton's, Lower Green post offices are due to face the axe in September.

Local residents have been given until Wednesday, July 23, to express their concern over the proposal -- which has been blamed on increased running costs and plummeting customer numbers as a direct result of changes to the benefit payment system introduced in April.

It means that customers in Carleton will have to travel more than a mile to Thornton Post Office, on Fleetwood Road North, or walk to Poulton Post Office, in the Teanlowe Centre, which is a journey of almost a mile -- most of which is uphill.

Similarly Lower Green customers are being advised to use services in Poulton town centre or at Hodderway Post Office three quarters of a mile away on Hardhorn Way.

The announcement follows hot on the heels of sites in Normoss, Anchorsholme and Blackpool which were earmarked for closure earlier this year.

Postmasters at both Great Carleton and Lower Green Post Office's declined to comment on the proposal, but Post Office Ltd Head of Area, Eddie Herbert said: "The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business.

"We have considered this request very carefully and have concluded that if these office were to close, it would improve the long-term prospects of the other offices in the area.

"We are confident they could cope with the extra business and therefore we are proposing to close Great Carleton and Lower Green Post Offices permanently."

North West Euro MP, Chris Davies, says the closure is the latest example of local communities being weakened by "government cost-cutting".

Mr Davies said: "The loss of these facilities will both inconvenience elderly people and deprive the Carleton and Poulton areas of a valuable asset."

"The very fabric of our local communities is being weakened both by changing lifestyles and by government cost-cutting measures.

"It is high time that a national strategy was developed to try to address these issues."

Any person wishing to voice their concerns over the closure should write to the National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN, before July 23.