Councillors warn town could lose Post Office if plans not defeated

Heywood councillors have warned the town could lose its post office within 12 months if plans to have it run by a mystery retailer in a new location are not defeated.

The Post Office is proposing to close the current Hind Hill Street branch and move it into the former Beddoes store in Market Street, where it would be managed by an as-yet-unnamed ‘retail partner’.

Post Office officials say this is part of its continuing ‘modernisation’ drive and believe it is the best way to ensure there are services in Heywood for ‘years to come’.

Residents say the absence of parking spaces, coupled with double-yellow lines outside the shop, will make it difficult for customers to use the facility, particularly those who are elderly or disabled, and some also claim that the building is not adequate in size or condition.

There are further concerns that replacing experienced Post Office workers with new retail staff will mean a drop in the standard of service.

The franchise model has seen Post Offices move into branches of WH Smith, as is happening in neighbouring Middleton, and other retailers across the country.

Councillor Ray Dutton told a meeting of Heywood Township Committee, that following this route would be disastrous for Heywood.

He said: “We’ve seen it in the centre of Rochdale when they put it in Woolworths. Is it still there? No.

“They don’t stay, it’s a 12-month fix-it and lose it. Because if you don’t use it you lose it, and they will close it on footfall.

“That’s why I’m totally adamant that I’m totally against this closure and it should be a united front across the country, not just Heywood.”

Councillor Jacqui Beswick shared her colleagues’ concerns saying: “Yes, there could be a bigger footfall but that could be very short-lived.

“Because if they go in there and have issues with the parking and everything else that people have spoken about tonight, then that will run for 12 months and we won’t have a Post Office in Heywood at all, that’s our biggest concern.

“My understanding is they are looking for somewhere to move to and this building is available and that’s as much as we’ve been told.

“If it’s not suitable, if someone consults with us, we can look at what we’ve got available and point them in the right direction, but you have to be consulted for that.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Liam O’Rourke urged residents to make it clear in their consultation responses that the Post Office would lose customers if the branch moves to new premises.

“Hit them in the pocket because it’s the only language they understand,” he said.

Susan Coates, spoke on behalf of the elderly people who use Sandon House Community Centre, where she is a director.

She said the proposals were ‘ethically not right’ and questioned the suitability of the proposed building.

But she told the committee she was pleased that councillors and residents were ‘united’ in opposing the Post Office’s plan.

Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes has launched a petition against the plans.

She says the franchise model at best points to a lack of vision, and ‘at worst suggests a managed decline of a public asset’.

Responding to criticism of the proposals, a Post Office spokesman said: “We are not proposing to make these changes to Heywood Post Office lightly, but we need to make them if we are to ensure that branches like Heywood remain at the heart of towns and cities, not just in the short term, but for the long term too.”

Post Office officials are also urging residents to take part in its public consultation, which can be found online at:

• www.postofficeviews.co.uk/national-consultation-team/heywood-ol10-1aj-007424/

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter