Post Office closing with 'reluctance' (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Post Office closing with 'reluctance'

4:03pm Monday 24th November 2008 in Search By Emma Clark

THE CO-OPERATIVE Group says the decision to close its Harpenden newsagent and sub-post office was made with "the greatest reluctance".

The convenience store will close on Monday, December 29, after the company broke its on-going contract with the Post Office.

Balfour News, in Southdown Road, employs two full-time and four part-time staff, while the post office employs one full-time and three part-time staff.

All were given their notice on Thursday.

Monica Nelson, a spokeswoman for the Co-Op, said this afternoon: "The closure decision was taken with the greatest reluctance and much regret, and was due to the store’s poor trading performance.

"The Co-op is committed to community retailing in the region and in the past year has invested several million pounds in refitting and converting local stores to its new business identity, The Co-operative."

She added that efforts would be made to find other positions in the local area for the redundant staff.

The Post Office has not yet commented on whether it intends to open a new post office in the area.

Oli de Botton, Labour parliamentary candidate for Harpenden and Hitchin, said: “I have been approached by a number of residents who are worried and upset by this decision.

"They are concerned not only because they might loose access to vital services, but also because staff may lose their jobs in the run-up to Christmas.

"I am particularly angry since the Co-operative movement is meant to be based on the principles of solidarity and fairness."