Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse and the Liberal Democrat members of B&NES Council are hoping many of us will sign a petition they have launched to show how great the local feeling is at the loss of a central post office.
It follows the imminent closure of the TG Jones store, which housed such a facility on its first floor.
Today, the Post Office itself has issued a statement. A spokesperson told me:
“We fully recognise the challenging trading conditions that TG Jones and many other High Street retailers are facing at the moment. TG Jones had its Restructuring Plan approved by the High Court on 1 July, which includes seeking new commercial terms with landlords for the majority of their estate. Consequently, TG Jones is looking to close their Bath store. Regrettably, Bath Post Office is due to close on Tuesday 1 September.
“We know how important our products and services are to the local community. We have already received expressions of interest from some retailers, and we are now looking more closely at the interest expressed.
We want to open a replacement branch as soon as possible. In the interim, alternative branches will be Lower Weston and Battle Walk.”
The full addresses of alternative branches are:
Lower Weston Post Office, 41 Newbridge Road, Lower Weston, Bath, BA1 3HF (1.3 miles)
Battle Walk Post Office, SPAR, Unit 1, Battle Walk, Lansdown, Bath, BA1 9AX (2 miles).
Meanwhile, one other councillor has suggested a different way in which the council could help.
Cllr Joanna Wright, Group Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Green Group, has written an open letter to Cllr Kevin Guy, the Leader of B&NES.
She says:
“The closure of Bath’s city centre Post Office on Union Street is not just a disappointment but a significant inconvenience to local residents who rely on access to essential postal services in the heart of Bath.
Can you ensure Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) delivers a central post office within one of the many buildings it owns on its city centre estate?
This year the Government released statistics and access criteria confirming that 95% of the total urban population across the UK should be within one mile of their nearest post office.
With the Union Street Post Office closing, many city centre residents will have to travel out of the centre to Lower Weston, Battle Walk and Larkhall to access services that were previously available on their doorstep.
Under your Liberal Democrat Administration and with the Liberal Democrat MP, you have called on residents to take on the responsibility to reopen the Post Office by asking them to sign a Liberal Democrat Petition. This falls short of action that this council, which you lead, should take.
B&NES controls a substantial estate across the city and is currently disposing of some of these assets. Surely it can explore whether an existing central location could be used to accommodate a new Post Office. Furthermore, WECA funding through “Love Our High Street” could be used to support the delivery of a Post Office in the centre of Bath.
Many residents will question the Council’s priorities when it is prepared to invest £1.7 million of WECA funding to convert the former Post Office building into a Fashion Museum, yet there is no longer a Post Office serving the city centre. This risks creating the impression that the needs of visitors and the tourism economy are being placed ahead of the day-to-day essential needs of local residents.
Other Councils have shown that they can open post offices locally. A Post Office for the Public Good is critical infrastructure to support residents providing banking and cash access, vital support for small businesses, and an important social hub for the community.
B&NES residents want their electorate to provide them with local services they need. A Post Office provides them with convenient and reliable provision of these services. This Council, under your leadership, does have the power to deliver a Post Office in one of its existing buildings in the centre of Bath. “
PS. Have just been told that Swindon is also losing its central post office!
If you’re on the east side of Bath, there’s also a post office at Bathampton. Parking is a bit restricted but the 11 bus stops right outside.
‘Many residents will question the Council’s priorities when it is prepared to invest £1.7 million of WECA funding to convert the former Post Office building into a Fashion Museum, yet there is no longer a Post Office serving the city centre. This risks creating the impression that the needs of visitors and the tourism economy are being placed ahead of the day-to-day essential needs of local residents.’
My point exactly and I can’t be the only one thinking along those lines!
Three cheers for Joanna Wright. The Council have not shown themselves in a good light in the management of this problem and she is right……sorry, should I say Wright? Please pass on these thanks. Hope the Council can now get their act together and provide space for a Post Office in the city centre.