Post Office Closure in Tonbridge
The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the proposed closure by Post Office Ltd of the existing stand-alone post office on Tonbridge High Street is unacceptable; and further that the post office should not be relocated within another existing local business.
The petitioners therefore urge the House of Commons to note their objections to the proposed closure by Post Office Ltd of the existing stand-alone post office on Tonbridge High Street and its proposed relocation within another existing local business.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Tom Tugendhat , Official Report,17 November 2016; Vol. 617, c. 491.]
[P001979]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Margot James):
The Post Office operates as an independent business and the Government do not play a role in the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the company, which includes decisions on the provision and location of individual post offices.
The Post Office’s proposal to relocate its Tonbridge branch into the local WHSmith store is part of the company’s ongoing plans to ensure its branch network is sustainable and profitable in the long term and fits the future needs of the business and its customers. Changes to its Crown network, such as the hosting or franchising of existing branches, have been undertaken previously in many locations across the UK and are a successful way of sustaining Post Office services in these locations and bringing in further investment.
In line with the Post Office’s code of practice, Government are aware that the Post Office undertook a six-week local consultation on the planned relocation, to make customers and the community aware of the details of its proposal and to seek feedback. The Post Office considers all feedback carefully before reaching a final decision, which it will do in due course.