Yahoo News Post Office closure would be 'a damaging and backwards step' for Grimsby
North East Lincolnshire Council has intervened over the threatened closure of Grimsby town centre's Post Office branch.
Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson has sent a letter to the Government's Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, to ask for his support to keep the Victoria Street South branch open. Cllr Jackson has said the potential closure "would be a damaging and backwards step".
It is one of 115 directly owned Post Office branches under consideration for potential closure, as part of the state-owned company's strategic review. The review aims to make the Post Office more commercially financially sustainable.
Read More: Petition launched to save Grimsby town centre Post Office
"This is something that we feel really strongly about, and wanted to get to the highest authorities as soon as possible," said Cllr Jackson. "Along with significant funding from the Government and other agencies, along with work being done by our partners, we are in the midst of delivering a once in a generation town centre regeneration programme.
"The Post Office is at heart of Grimsby town centre, and our plans, and those of our partners, particularly for Freshney Place and the Community Diagnostics Centre within it and the housing development at Garth Lane, will bring significant additional footfall to the town centre in the coming years.
"To consider closure of the Post Office at this point would be a damaging and backwards step, particularly when our residents are starting to see visible signs of positive and impactful change on the high street."
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn has called for a rethink of the potential closure and launched a petition against it. Neighbouring Brigg and Immingham MP Martin Vickers has suggested the Post Office should look at moving it, rather than resorting to the branch's closure.
There are 11,500 Post Office branches throughout the country. Most run on a franchise model, where they are based within small independent businesses.
The 115 under threat are Crown-owned branches and reportedly employ collectively almost a thousand people. The Post Office is considering their closure, or seek alternative franchise arrangements.
Cllr Jackson added: "We will continue to petition Government to keep the Post Office open in the town centre, to try to make sure that we keep the best facilities here for our residents and businesses."
