The TG Jones retail chain, formerly known as WH Smith, is undergoing significant post office closures as part of a broader restructuring. According to Post Office records reviewed by the Guardian, 36 branches have already closed in the current year, with an additional 34 set to shut by early 2027. This represents more than one-third of the post offices operating within TG Jones stores when the company was acquired and renamed by private equity firm Modella following creditor approval in July.
The scale of the closures is substantial. Of the 450 stores acquired by Modella, up to 150 are expected to shut, including approximately 70 containing post offices. This wave of closures extends beyond TG Jones, as Morrisons announced the closing of 52 post offices within Morrisons Daily convenience stores this year as part of a plan to close 100 loss-making small locations. The cumulative effect is particularly acute in certain areas, with multiple post offices closing in towns including Stevenage, Bracknell, Orpington, Hull, York, and Telford within a compressed timeframe. Several regions including Essex, the West Midlands, Wales, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire are experiencing concentrated closures.
Many of these locations represent replacements for former crown post offices, the now nearly defunct network of over 100 directly operated large branches that offered comprehensive services including identity verification, passport processing, and banking operations. The Post Office is attempting to identify alternative operators for affected locations, though success has been limited. Only Stirling has reopened following a TG Jones closure, while Ipswich is scheduled to get a permanent replacement in November, with temporary branches planned for Maidenhead and Uxbridge.
The closures carry significant implications for local communities and businesses. Post Office evidence presented to a parliamentary inquiry on high street revitalization indicated that nearly one-third of small and medium-sized businesses use their local branch at least weekly, with over half visiting monthly. Business representatives have warned that losing post office access could threaten their viability within months. The Post Office noted it plays a critical role in providing essential services following the closure of over 6,800 bank branches across the UK and operates 250 banking hubs combining services for multiple banking brands.
The CWU union, representing postal workers, characterized the closures as contributing to “postal deserts” and criticized the closures as part of a cost-cutting strategy with insufficient regard for communities. The Post Office stated it is actively seeking alternative operators, noting significant interest from postmasters and indicating applications from some locations, though progress on replacing closed branches remains ongoing.
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