Post office closure's 'significant' local impact

The closure of a city post office will have a "significant impact" on the area's future, local people fear.

Truro post office, which was within a branch of TG Jones, officially closed on Tuesday after the high street retailer announced in May up to 150 of its 480 stores would close as part of a restructuring plan.

Jayne Kirkham, Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth, who has been campaigning to keep the branch, said the post office provided "invaluable" face-to-face services and helped keep the high street "alive".

A spokesperson for the Post Office said the vacancy for a Truro branch had already been advertised and it was in the "early stages" of reviewing applications.

"We fully recognise the challenging trading conditions that TG Jones and many other high street retailers are facing at the moment," they said.

The spokesperson added alternative post office branches included Trelander and Shortlanesend, and apologised for inconvenience caused.

Kirkham said she and other stakeholders had "to keep our foot on the pedal" to ensure processes are followed "as quickly as possible because we need our post office back in Truro".

"I don't think any of us are prepared to let it go for months and months," she added.

Lemon Street Market business owner Rosie Houghton said she used the post office daily and the closure would have a "significant impact".

Houghton said as well as in store, customers from across the UK purchased items via her website which needed to be delivered.

"I've been using the post office for years and years daily," she said.

"Sometimes it's just a couple of parcels but towards Christmas it's a significant amount."

She said she would take parcels to the post office on her way home which had always "worked beautifully".

Houghton said she has had to tell her customers she was unable to guarantee a next day delivery because of the journey needed to drive parcels to Shortlanesend at the end of the day.

Cornwall councillor Steven Webb said it was not the postal company's fault and thanked them for working with the community.

He said stakeholders however did need to "keep the pressure on".

"It's a bit of a cloak and dagger kind of process," he said, adding he was "working hard" to keep the service in Truro.

He said: "I'd rather they closed for a couple of months - even if it's up to six weeks - and have a permanent solution."

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