(Image: Alice Kavanagh)
THE main post office in York city centre is set to close after its final trading day today as the shop where it is located prepares to shut after years in the city centre.
York’s Coney Street Post Office, which is inside TG Jones, formerly WHSmith, will be closing its doors after today (October 14) - leaving the city without a main postal hub for the foreseeable future.
Retail giant TG Jones announced at the start of last month that it will be shutting its Coney Street shop – with banners appearing in the windows of the shop marking down stock and equipment.
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- PICTURES - North Yorkshire garden to showcase ethereal autumn displaysAs reported by The Press at the time, this follows news that the brand has secured court approval for a major restructuring, which is expected to lead to the closure of around 150 stores nationwide and affect hundreds of jobs – including York.
Whilst TG Jones is set to close its doors for good on Monday, October 19, the Post Office will be shutting earlier with a spokesperson adding that they are currently going through the process of finding a new team.
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 1 July, which includes seeking new commercial terms with landlords for the majority of their estate.
“Consequently, TG Jones is looking to close their York store. Regrettably, York Post Office closes on Wednesday (14/10).
“We know how important our products and services are to the local community. The vacancy has already been advertised, and we have heard from interested retailers. We are now looking more closely at the expressions of interest.
“We want to open a replacement branch as soon as possible. This can take around six months to re-open a replacement branch after a resignation is received.
In the interim alternative branches include Market Place and Micklegate. Customers can visit www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder to check the products and services available at branches and opening times.”
At the time of the announcement, members of the public expressed their concerns around the closure with one shopper, Annie Donaghy, adding that she was concerned for both the older community and local businesses who used the location to cash up.
Another shopper, Andrew, added: “I’m very shocked to see it go and I think it’s sad – it’s on the main thoroughfare and it’s got a good footfall.
“The Post Office going is another thing that shouldn’t happen, we won’t have a post office now that it moved in here from Lendal. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”