Council could take over running of Oswestry's main post office

The branch in Willow Street is currently under review, with the Post Office looking at the viabiliity of 115 of its whole-owned sites.

However, there may be an option for the town council to franchise it – in a similar way to how Hailsham Town Council do in East Sussex.

“I’ve again had a conversation with Hailsham Town Council about the short-term and long-term issues with that as a piece of work, as well as the legal framework,” said Arren Roberts, the Oswestry Town Council clerk told a council meeting last Wednesday (January 15).

“The legal framework is interesting because they use the power of competency and have also set up a company alongside that to trade.

“It is relatively easy to do with the right governance. It does have some significant financial implications – Hailsham Post Office costs them £60,000 a year to run, but that is a decision they’ve made.”

Mr Roberts added that he has been provided with a good overview of the process the Post Office is undertaking, and why they’re doing it.

“A lot of directly managed branches are losing a lot of money by an average of £190,000 each per year, and they’re looking at closing that gap,” said Mr Roberts.

“They have had lots of expressions of interest to the branches and franchise, but the outcome won’t be reported until March.

“There was no opportunity to talk specifics about Oswestry because they view that commercially sensitive, so they won’t share the costs or any of that information with us, or anyone else.

“But what was clear was there isn’t a ‘pick and mix’ solution – it’s all or none of it, there’s no ‘we’ll look after the property if you look after the staff’.

“We’re really grateful they’ve engaged with us and we’ve expressed the council’s view quite clearly to them.

“There is an opportunity, depending on the outcome, to fully engage with them

“What I will say from an officer’s perspective though is that there will be no further actions now, the next thing will be the outcome of this process and members will determine will we will do next.”

Meanwhile, the Post Office has said it will be ‘undertaking a review of service provision in the area’ after it was confirmed that the branch at the Co-op in Cabin Lane is set to close in July.

“The operator for Cabin Lane Post Office in Oswestry has recently resigned as The Co-operative Group Ltd has made the difficult decision to close the store where the branch is based,” said a Post Office spokesperson.

“The date has not yet been finalised, but it is likely to be in July.

“We understand that customers will be concerned about the branch closing and we will be undertaking a review of service provision in the area as soon as possible. We will share a further update as soon as we are able to.”