Oswestry Town Council is considering franchising its Post Office to keep it running, following successful models from other towns
Oswestry: The town council is looking into the idea of franchising the Post Office on Willow Street. This approach has worked well in other places, so they’re hopeful.
Right now, the Oswestry branch is under review. The Post Office is checking the viability of 115 of its sites across the UK. It’s a big deal!
The council is backing a campaign to save the branch and is considering a franchise model similar to what Hailsham Town Council did in East Sussex.
Arren Roberts, the town council clerk, mentioned he’s been chatting with Hailsham about the legal and financial aspects of this move. It sounds like they’ve got a solid plan.
He noted that while it’s not too complicated to set up a franchise, it does come with some hefty costs. For instance, Hailsham spends about £60,000 a year to keep their Post Office running.
Mr. Roberts also shared that many branches are losing money—around £190,000 each year! The Post Office is trying to close that gap, and they’ve had a lot of interest in franchising.
However, they won’t have any specific details about Oswestry until March, as that info is considered sensitive. It’s a bit frustrating, but they’re keeping the council in the loop.
He emphasized that there’s no option to split responsibilities; it’s all or nothing. The council is grateful for the communication and is eager to see what happens next.
Meanwhile, the Post Office is also reviewing services in the area since the Cabin Lane branch is set to close in July. The Co-op, where it’s located, has decided to shut down.
They understand that this news is concerning for customers and promise to keep everyone updated on service options as soon as they can.
