Yahoo News Martin Vickers MP suggests Grimsby Post Office move rather than closure
A local MP has urged the Post Office to consider a move rather than closure of its central Grimsby postal branch. A government minister said it would be "completely unacceptable" to have no Post Office counter services in the town's commercial centre.
Brigg and Immingham's Conservative MP Martin Vickers took part in a recent parliamentary debate on the future of the Post Office. The state-owned organisation has announced a strategic review and the potential closure of 115 branches to make it more financially sustainable.
All branches affected are larger crown branches - those owned by the Post Office directly. This includes its branch in Victoria Street South, Grimsby.
Read More: Grimsby Post Office under threat of closure
During a debate on the future of the Post Office, Mr Vickers directly raised the Grimsby branch's possible closure, and suggested it should move to smaller premises, rather than resort to closing it altogether.
"The Minister rightly says that Crown post offices are more costly. I can assure him that the one in Grimsby, for example, could easily operate in much smaller premises or in premises shared with other businesses in the commercial centre of the town. Will the Minister give an assurance that he will ensure the Post Office looks at operating out of alternative premises, and cuts its costs before considering closures?"
In response, business minister Gareth Thomas said: "We have made it clear to the Post Office that it has to talk to sub-postmasters, stakeholders and the trade unions about the costs associated with directly managed branches. We are committed to the requirement to ensure there is easy access to a post office branch for every community, up and down the country."
He added the Government encouraged the Post Office to continue to talk to the sub-postmasters who run branches in communities. "It’s completely unacceptable that the commercial centre of the town should not have access to Post Office counter services. Shared or smaller premises must be fully explored before a decision is taken."
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes' Labour MP Melanie Onn has called for a rethink of the potential closure of the Victoria Street South branch, and said she is "deeply disappointed" to hear it is under threat.
The Post Office needs an annual government subsidy to be viable, and reported pre-tax losses of over £80m in 2022/23. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is also opposing the possible closures.
The Post Office has 11,500 branches across the UK. Most are franchises, where independent business owners run a service within their shop. There are seven smaller franchise branches throughout Grimsby and two more in Cleethorpes, according to the Post Office's branch finder.
The nearest alternatives to the town centre Victoria Street South branch are in Ripon Street, 13 minutes walk away, and Freeman Street, 15 minutes walk away.
