Government asked to help save Post Office branch

The leader of North East Lincolnshire Council has asked the government to step in to help save a local Post Office branch threatened with closure.

The Grimsby Victoria Street South branch is one of 115 crown-owned outlets at risk of closure following the state-owned company’s recently announced strategic review.

Councillor Philip Jackson has written to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, to ask for his support.

“This is something that we feel really strongly about, and wanted to get to the highest authorities as soon as possible,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the branch was at the heart of the town centre and in an area where ongoing development would bring significant additional footfall in the coming years.

“To consider closure of the Post Office at this point would be a damaging and backwards step, particularly when our residents are starting to see visible signs of positive and impactful change on the high street.

“We will continue to petition government to keep the Post Office open in the town centre, to try to make sure that we keep the best facilities here for our residents and businesses," he added.

Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn previously launched a petition to save the branch from closure.

Onn said she was "deeply saddened" to hear the Grimsby Victoria Street South branch was at risk and called it "a lifeline for so many residents".

Across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, branches in Bridlington, Bransholme and Stamford are also at risk of closure under the consultation, which residents have criticised.

The review aims to put the Post Office on a more commercially sustainable position.

The company made pre-tax losses of over £80m in 2022/23 and is reliant on an annual government subsidy.

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