(Image: Alice Kavanagh)
An MP has said it may take six months to find a solution to the closure of York’s main Post Office.
Rachael Maskell said residents and businesses must rely on a “teeny-weeny Post Office in the city centre” after the closure of the main branch in Coney Street on Wednesday (October 14).
It followed TG Jones, formerly known as WHSmith, announcing it would be shutting its Coney Street branch, which contains York’s main post office.
The Post Office has said it has advertised a vacancy for the store and heard from interested retailers.
TG Jones in Coney Street, which housed York's main post office, has now closed (Image: Alice Kavanagh)
Ms Maskell told the Commons York residents were “given assurances” that the Post Office moving to Coney Street after its main branch in Lendal closed in 2019 would be a long-term solution.
“However Modella Capital, which has taken over WHSmiths, closed their post office [on Wednesday],” she said.
“We only have a teeny-weeny post office in the city centre.
“We have businesses dependent on it, residents, as well as tourists. 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.”
The Labour York Central MP asked the minister for the future of work, Kate Dearden, to outline the steps she will take to “ensure we’ve got a temporary solution before we get our sustained outcome”.
Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central (Image: UK Parliament/PA Wire)
Ms Dearden said: “The Post Office has confirmed it remains committed to restoring a replacement branch and has received interest from several potential applicants.
“Whilst these are operational matters to the Post Office, I will ask them to consider capacity concerns and will 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.”
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A Post Office spokesperson said: “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.”
Members of the public voiced their concerns about the closure of the Coney Street post office.
One shopper, who gave his name only as Andrew, said: “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.”