'No decision made' on Grimsby branch - Post Office

The Post Office says it will not comment on whether there have been any expressions of interest in a franchise to run its branch in Grimsby town centre.

The branch, in Victoria Street, is one of 115 directly managed branches being considered for closure or franchising as part of a strategic review.

Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn introduced a petition against potential closure in Parliament this week.

The Post Office said it was "not commenting on individual branches at this stage and whether there have been expressions of interest made for a specific branch."

"We are deeply disappointed to hear that the post office in Grimsby town centre is at risk of closure under the Post Office's strategic review," said Ms Onn when presenting the 568-signature petition to Parliament.

"The branch provides numerous services, such as business banking, to residents in the town, particularly older residents, and it is the last Crown post office in North East Lincolnshire."

Immingham MP Martin Vickers has also raised the issue in Parliament, while North East Lincolnshire councillors have unanimously opposed the potential closure of the branch.

Ms Onn has also written to the Post Office's chief executive Nick Read on the matter and council leader Philip Jackson wrote to the Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the Post Office to ask if expressions of interest had been made to franchise the branch.

A Post Office spokesperson said no decision had been made about any directly managed branch.

"Post Office has launched a new, five-year Transformation Plan that will deliver a New Deal for Postmasters, putting them at the heart of the business," the spokesperson said.

To finalise this, it is considering initiatives to "boost revenue, drive efficiency and reduce costs".

The Post Office has previously said it is committed to engagement with unions until March 2025.

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