Grimsby Post Office under threat of closure

A major Grimsby Post Office is under threat of closure.

The Post Office has announced transformation plans, which involve the potential closure of 115 branches. All are its larger crown branches - those owned by the company directly.

The move could overall result in the loss of hundreds of jobs across the country. The Post Office in Victoria Street South, Grimsby, is among those named as under threat of closure.

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The Post Office, which is state-owned, is making the transformation proposals to secure a more sustainable financial position. The 364-year-old organisation is loss-making, and needs an annual government subsidy to stay afloat. It reported pre-tax losses of over £80m in 2022/23.

In an announcement to postmasters and staff on Wednesday, Post Office Chair Nigel Railton said: "The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service, and today we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters. We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal."

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) intends to oppose the proposals. It has called the timing, as the Horizon Post Office public inquiry continues, "immoral" and "tone deaf". Affected branches collectively employ nearly one-thousand people, and are said to be significantly loss making, Sky News has reported.

The Post Office has 11,500 branches across the UK, most of which are franchises. There are seven smaller franchise branches throughout Grimsby - the nearest to the town centre are in Ripon Street and Riby Square.

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