Co-op leaves it late but post office wins a lifeline

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SWADLINCOTE Post Office has been saved after franchisees performed a last-minute partial U-turn.

With just 96 hours left before they were due to axe the branch, located on The Delph, bosses at Tamworth Co-operative Society said they would keep it open while the Post Office persisted with efforts to find a replacement sub-postmaster.

“We said from the outset that we would be prepared to do everything in our power to ensure that the service is not disrupted in Swadlincote — and this is proof of that,” said Co-op chief executive Julian Coles.

“We hoped there would be another party whose circumstances might make running a post office a more attractive prospect and we are delighted that progress is being made to secure a service in the town.

“This is obviously only a temporary agreement and we appreciate the support of our post office staff in being able to maintain a post office service beyond the date originally set for closure on September 30.

“Our intention is to provide the service for as long as feasible, and to work with the post office and the new long-term organisation appointed.”

Post Office Ltd spokesman Richard Hall confirmed the commitment was openended but said post office bosses hoped to find a new franchisee ‘as soon as possible’.
He said the business was working with ‘a couple of interested parties’.

“We welcome the announcement from the Co-op,” said Mark Alflat, director of operations at South Derbyshire District Council.

“We recognise how important maintaining the presence of the post office is to the town centre and our chief executive is working with all parties to broker a sustainable solution for its future.”

Pat Murray, chairman of Swadlincote Chamber of Trade, said: “I’m elated. It’s like winning the lottery.”

He said the Co-op had bowed to the will of the 7,000 people who signed the chamber’s petition demanding the branch remained open.

“The voice of the people has been heard,” he said.

The Co-op’s latest move comes twoand- a-half months after it said it would close the service and clothing store after years of ‘substantial losses’.

Bosses said they had been forced to subsidise the operation from other areas of its business for years, a situation which, in difficult trading circumstances, could not continue.

The clothing store operated by the Coop in the same building closed on Saturday.