Fight to find new Post Office in Peterborough city centre steps up

A crunch meeting between city political leaders and Post Office bosses is expected to take place soon in a bid to identify a new home for the postal service, which has been in Bridge Street for the last 10 years.

Leading politicians were dismayed to be told late last week that retailer TG Jones is to close its Bridge Street store which has been home to the Post Office since it left Cowgate in 2016.

Now a high level meeting between civic leaders and Post Office chiefs to identify a new home with alternative plans already drawn up.

The closure of the TG Jones store is expected to take place early next year.

Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes said: I'd like to thank the Post Office for responding quickly to the request for a meeting and for an urgent update on how they will proceed with the expressions of interest they have had in providing an alternative branch in the city centre.

"It is good to know people have come forward with alternative plans.

"We are now looking at dates for an early meeting to discuss this further.”

Cllr Shabina Qayyum, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: "I am very concerned about this news and actively working with our city's MP Andrew Pakes and our Mayor to try to keep a main Post Office in the city centre.

"We want our city centre to be an attractive, welcoming and vibrant place and it is essential that we have the right facilities and outlets in place to achieve this.

"The Post Office provides a vital service for businesses and residents who rely on face-to-face

banking and postal services and we don't want to lose it."

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor Paul Bristow has also written to Neil Brocklehurst, the chief executive of the Post Office.

He said: "It is vital that Peterborough city centre continues to have a Post Office presence.”

TG Jones has not responded to requests for a comment on the closure plans for its Peterborough store.