Update On Future Of Town Centre Post Office

Residents could face a ‘break in service’ while urgent works to secure a new town centre Post Office in Oldham are ongoing.

Oldham MP Jim McMahon confirmed a new branch was unlikely to be opened before the service desk in Spindles Shopping Centre shuts in May. 

The current Post Office operators WHSmith announced a spate of shock closures in February this year, including its town centre store in Oldham. The news sparked worries the town would be left with ‘huge disruption’ and no central post office. 

But the council will now have to wait until the Post Office makes a final decision on which new postmaster to choose. 

Mr McMahon said, MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, stated: “Given the current branch shuts in May, there is potential of a short break in service, while the postmaster is selected.

During which time the branch alternatives would be at Coldhurst Post Office and Hardy St Post Office.

“The Post Office isn’t just another shop – it is a vital public service that should be easily accessible for all. I believe it is essential to have a Post Office in the centre of our Town for older residents, local businesses, and working people. People shouldn’t be having to go out of their way to reach this service.

“After discussions with Post Office Ltd, I have confirmed that both the independent postmasters have suggested locations within the Spindles shopping centre so there should hopefully be minimal disruption to a service running in the centre of the Town.” 

Oldham Council, who own the Spindles shopping centre, confirmed the negotiations to find a new postmaster are well underway – but involve a ‘lengthy’ application process with the Post Office. Several postmaster candidates have already negotiated potential leases in the Spindles centre through the council’s letting agent.

Updating councillors at a meeting last week, council boss Arooj Shah said the council has worked to ‘help the process as much as they can’. She added that conversations were ‘ongoing’ to attract a new retailer to the unit currently occupied by WHSmith. 

Coun Shah said: “I was also really disappointed to see WHSMith announce the closure of their Oldham shop. It’s important to note when another big high street brand has taken the decision to step away from town centres.

We’ve already received a number of inquiries about the future of the space and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to attract a retailer that Oldhamers want to shop at.”