Co-op closure could mean post office loss for town

A Co-op store is set to shut in Shropshire - putting the post office inside the branch under threat of closure too.

The shop, in Cabin Lane, Oswestry, will be closing in July, said a Co-op spokesperson.

Post Office Limited has been notified of the closure and said it would confirm whether it would seek another operator in the area once a review had taken place.

Without another operator, it could mean another site under threat in the town, with its main branch on Willow Street one of the 115 Post Office branches under threat.

After carrying out a review of existing locations, a Co-op spokesperson said the decision to close the store had been made after "very careful consideration".

They said: "It is important that reviews of stores are carried out across our estate to ensure the viability of locations.

"We understand that this decision will not be welcomed by all, so we are sorry for any inconvenience this will cause and would like to thank the community for its support of our Cabin Lane store during the time it has been there."

The group said it would be supporting staff employed at the store as a "priority".

The spokesperson added: "Post Office Limited know the store is closing and it is now a decision for them to whether they seek another operator in the area, and to assess post office provision locally."

Post Office is looking at options for its whole-owned sites, which currently employ about 1,000 people and are making a loss.

A spokesperson told the BBC: "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."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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