Wombwell Post Office to close

Wombwell’s sole Post Office is set to close at the end of next month, leaving customers with a one mile journey to the next closest branch.

The Post Office, which is currently inside the Heron Foods store on Wombwell’s High Street will close on July 27, because of ‘diminishing demand’.

Applications are open for anyone with suitable premises in the area who wishes to operate the Post Office, but unless a successful applicant is found, customers will have to travel more than a mile to use the nearest branch at Brampton.  

A Post Office spokesperson, said: “The operator for Wombwell Post Office has resigned and the branch will be closing at that location on Monday 27 July  at 5.30pm.

“The vacancy is advertised on www.runapostoffice.co.uk. We are working hard to keep any period of closure to a minimum as we know how important Post Office services are to a community.

“In the meantime alternative branches will include Brampton and Jump.”

A Heron spokesperson said: “Unfortunately we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close the Post Office in the Wombwell store as a result of diminishing demand and a  reduction in scale fees from the Post Office.”

Councillor Robert Frost,  one of Wombwell’s Labour councillors, called the timing of the closure ‘appalling’, at a time where many will struggle to use public transport due to social distancing measures that are still in place.

Coun Frost said: “Wombwell is the largest principle town in Barnsley and is to be left without a Post Office.

“For many, travelling to Brampton or Jump will require the use of public transport at a time when, due to social distancing, travel by bus is not recommended and is unlikely to change before July.

“Many of their clients are elderly or disabled.  Many were persuaded use the Post Office to do their banking as their bank branches have closed.  This has been caused by the Post Office privatisation and the use of franchising.

“Post offices should be run for public convenience not shareholder profits. I hope that a replacement can quickly be found as the timing is appalling during the Covid-19 pandemic.”