Questions over future of Peterborough Post Office and TG Jones store in Bridge Street
The future of the Peterborough city centre branch of the Post Office and TG Jones (formerly WH Smith) is in doubt, it has been revealed.
A Post Office spokesperson said that following the launch of its Restructuring Plan earlier this year, TG Jones confirmed that seven of its stores will close, as will the Post Offices within those stores, around mid-July.
The locations of those stores have not yet been revealed – but an advert has been posted by The Post Office looking for ‘a successful retailer to incorporate a Post Office Main into their existing or proposed business’ in Peterborough.
The advert says: “A successful applicant will need to have:
“Superb customer service and focus
“Excellent business management skills and experience
“Ability to communicate effectively and easily with your branch team and customers
“Talent for motivating and managing your branch team to ensure excellent customer service for all customers
“Strong conversational skills, actively listening and responding to customers’ needs
“Ability for hiring and training great team members for your branch
“Quick to identify potential business opportunities and keen to implement innovative ways of working to promote Post Office products within your business.”
The advert adds: "These contracts will be awarded directly as Post Office Ltd must act with extreme and unavoidable urgency to protect essential services relied upon by communities.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “We fully recognise the challenging trading conditions that TG Jones and many other High Street retailers are facing at the moment. Following the launch of its Restructuring Plan earlier this year, TG Jones confirmed that regrettably seven of its stores will close, as will the Post Offices within those stores, around mid-July.
"We know how important our products and services are to the local community. We have already advertised these vacancies (www.runapostoffice.co.uk), which has generated interest from retailers.
“TG Jones’ Restructuring Plan has now been approved and they will discuss lease terms with its landlords. Whilst it is possible that additional TG Jones stores with Post Offices could close, we wish to emphasise that no decisions have been made on additional stores with Post Offices at this time.
“We took the proactive step of advertising the opportunity to express an interest in operating a Post Office branch in advance of the court outcome and any decisions by landlords. This is to ensure that, should a branch need to close, we are in the strongest possible position to minimise disruption to customers by identifying a replacement operator as quickly as possible.
"Current advertised opportunities will be withdrawn if an agreement is reached between TG Jones and the landlord. New vacancies to operate a Post Office may also be advertised if a landlord decides to terminate a lease.”
The advert is available at https://runapostoffice.co.uk/branch/peterborough-post-office-peterborough-pe1-1dp?search_term=peterborough-cambridgeshire
The Post office moved from its old location in Cowgate to the WH Smith store in Bridge Street in 2016.
The Peterborough Telegraph has contacted TG Jones for comment.