Former Harrogate WH Smiths not yet on list of latest nationwide store closures

Fears for the last major Post Office in Harrogate town centre have been revived as the company that took over WH Smiths unveiled its latest store closure list

Worries resurfaced after major British newspaper, comics, magazine and bookseller TG Jones announced today it had begun a major round of store closures, with 150 of its 480 shops expected to close.

Last year WHSmith's high street bookshops were purchased by Modella Capital, and the stores were then rebranded under the name TG Jones.

This month Modella secured approval for a sweeping restructuring programme that will see up to 150 TG Jones shops close, as well as steep rent cuts on the remaining stores.

There are currently 451 stores employing 4,700 workers.

It has not published a full list of the stores to close but confirmed locations include Bath, Brixton, Swindon, Redcar, Solihull and Wrexham.

Harrogate's main Post Office is located on the first floor of what is now TG Jones inside the Victoria Shopping Centre on Cambridge Street

A Post Office spokesperson said: “We fully recognise the challenging trading conditions that TG Jones and many other High Street retailers are facing at the moment.

“TG Jones had its Restructuring Plan approved by the High Court on July 1, which includes seeking new commercial terms with landlords for the majority of their estate."

Postal services are also available at A R News Ltd on Oxford Street.