MP Rachael Maskell says York needs an urgent replacement for its main post office as the city can’t cope with just a ‘teeny-weeny’ branch.
The post office inside TG Jones on Coney Street closed on Wednesday, days before the store itself shuts for good.
It’s left the city centre with only the smaller branches on Colliergate and further out on Micklegate.
The post office moved into what was then WH Smith after its Lendal HQ was closed in 2019.
It could take months to replace. York Central MP Ms Maskell says that’s not good enough and has called for a temporary solution in the meantime.
Ms Maskell told the House of Commons yesterday: “When York’s Crown Post Office closed after 138 years, we were given assurances with WH Smith that we would have a sustained solution.
“However, Modella Capital, which has taken over WH Smith, closed their post office yesterday.
“We only have a teeny-weeny post office in the city centre. We have businesses dependent on it, and residents as well as tourism.
“We need a solution. I’ve met with the Post Office. They say six months to get a solution. I need a solution to our post office now.”
She asked business minister Kate Dearden: “What steps will she take to ensure we’ve got a temporary solution before we get our sustained outcome?”
In reply, Ms Dearden said she recognised the MP’s concern, adding: “Whilst these are operational matters to the Post Office, I’ll ask them to consider capacity concerns, and we’ll keep my honourable friend updated and ask officials to work with her and the post office in finding that temporary solution as she rightly raises.”
The Post Office says businesses have come forward interested in hosting the main York city centre branch.
A spokesperson said: “We know how important our products and services are to the local community.
“The vacancy has recently been advertised on runapostoffice.co.uk and has generated interest from retailers, so the advert has been taken down.
“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 from a resignation being received.
“In the interim alternative branches include Market Place and Micklegate.”