Middleton Post Office to close next year

Middleton Post Office to move into the WH Smith branch in 2019

Middleton's Post Office is set to close in 2019. 

Liz McInnes, Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton, said: “I am extremely disappointed to hear the news that the Middleton Post Office will be closing and moving into the WH Smith branch in 2019.

"While this is better than losing the branch altogether and retains a level of provision in the area, this most likely means a reduction in services, accessibility, and jobs. There is also huge uncertainty about the future of WH Smith, who have recently announced closures of some of their high street stores. It makes little sense and is a huge risk to relocate vital Post Office services into a business which is closing stores and which might lose more.

"Over the past five years the Post Office - which is entirely owned by the Government- has announced the closure of 150 flagship Crown Post Offices. This announcement of a further 74 Crown offices to be closed and franchised, including in Middleton, means the Crown network will have been cut by 60% since 2013.

"Closing flagship branches, getting rid of experienced staff and putting counters in the back of a WH Smith is not the plan for growth or innovation that the Post Office network so desperately needs, and it is not the level of service that the public should expect.  At best these relentless closures point to a lack of vision, and at worst it suggests a managed decline of a public asset.

"MPs have not been consulted about these closures, and there has been no meaningful consultation whatsoever with the Middleton public or Post Office staff. I will be supporting the Communication Workers Union in their efforts to protect branches, services and jobs.”

A Post Office spokesperson said: "We’re planning to franchise this branch to ensure it’s sustainable for the future.  WHSmith is a potential franchise partner and we have also had other interest.  We will make a decision about our preferred franchise partner in due course and, when we have a detailed proposal, we will hold a six week public consultation.  I will let you have full details of this at the time.

"The vast majority of Post Offices, large and small, are operated on a franchise basis.  We have thousands of large Post Offices in towns and cities operated in this way, as well as our smaller branches in local shops. 

"In Middleton, a franchise arrangement would mean extended opening hours for customers, including Sundays, and Post Office services safeguarded for the long term."