Mystery after Stone Post Office closes without warning

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A TOWN centre post office will remain closed until Monday at the earliest as talks continue to try to reopen the branch.

Stone Post Office shut without warning yesterday, to the bemusement of traders and shoppers in the town.

Customers visiting the High Street branch were met with a hand-written note in the window telling them the post office was closed "until further notice".

It left hundreds of customers who were hoping to post parcels, change currency or pay bills at the branch in limbo.

The nearest post office is a smaller branch three miles away in Yarnfield or customers face a six-mile trip to Eccleshall.

A Post Office Ltd spokesman apologised for the inconvenience, but did not explain the reasons behind the closure.

He said: "Due to circumstances beyond our control we have had no option but to suspend our service at Stone. We are discussing the situation with the relevant parties as a matter of urgency.

"We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience this temporary closure will cause. "We are doing everything possible to restore services as soon as possible."

Traders and shoppers in the town have spoken of their shock over the sudden closure, and hope to see it re-opened.

Richard Leighton, a 47-year-old assistant manager at electrical shop Hylands, which is opposite the post office, said: "I was quite surprised to come to work in the morning and see the post office shut.

"I don't think the person who ran it had been there for long and the shop had undergone a bit of a refit and started selling groceries and other bits.

"It's always been a busy post office so the whole thing is a complete mystery to me.

"There's been a lot of customers standing outside looking confused all day."

Becky Moseley, who runs Wikijum fair trade shop on High Street, uses the post office regularly.

She said: "The community needs a post office and I hope it's open again as soon as possible, before it really starts affecting people.

"A lot of older people catch the bus to the town centre to use the post office to get their pension money and so on.

"There's been a few rumours going around about what's happened, but no-one knows anything for certain."

Matt Groves, aged 22, who lives on Lichfield Street, Stone, had gone to the branch to post a parcel.

He said: "It's a bit of an inconvenience being shut.

"I'll probably have to drive to the post office in Stafford now, but I'll have to use more petrol and pay to park, which I could have done without."

[Lounge Lizard]

If a business is losing money then it's quite likely to shut without warning - quite simple really.

[fishtank]

More likely one of those "accountancy irregularities"...
Will await the "we know you didn't take the money but pay us it back anyway" stories.

[Lounge Lizard]

More likely one of those "accountancy irregularities"...
Will await the "we know you didn't take the money but pay us it back anyway" stories.

No, it's not "one of those 'accountancy irregularities'" as you would realise if you knew someone who considered buying the business but didn't when they properly investigated the profitability, or otherwise, of it.
Stone Post Office is still advertised for sale as "Unopposed main Post Office in centre of famous canalside town. Salary £108,000, now the only PO in town, offering all services. Recently commenced convenience store operation - completely refitted at a cost of £35,000. Current T/O of £1,700 pw from easy hours and 6 day week. Excellent back office/staff facilities. Pedestrianised High Street location. Close to M6, Stafford & West Midlands. Lease £125,000" Any takers ?