Local MP Tom Gordon has expressed his disappointment after The Post Office announced Knaresborough's Post Office is to move inside Lloyds Pharmacy.
The plan involves retaining the current operator, who has not provided Post Office services since the start of June, and who is undergoing voluntary insolvency and reportedly owes over £250k to HMRC.
Tom Gordon MP, who had a number of phone calls with Post Office officials in recent days, expressed disappointment and frustration with the decision and the lack of transparency around it.
The MP has arranged to meet with Post Office Ltd, although this has not happened prior to this announcement.
Tom said:
“It is very disappointing to hear that the Post Office is going to continue with a half-baked plan that will hurt essential health services and provide a diminished Post Office service.
“Reopening Knaresborough’s existing Post Office should be a priority, and yet we still have no timetable for when services should be up and running.
“To suggest that the previous operator has to be the one to run a reopened service is astounding.
“They have failed to provide any Post Office services for the last 2 months."
Tom added:
“There are wider issues at play, like how can Post Office Ltd, owned by the Government, allow individuals who owe hundreds of thousands to HMRC to run contracts.
“When parliament returns I will look to make this point to the Postal Minister at the earliest opportunity.
“Post Office Ltd have dithered and delayed and ignored local residents. Simply put they have got this wrong.
“At a time when public trust with the Post Office is already at a low this will only further tarnish their reputation.
“It is extremely frustrating and disappointing that Post Office Ltd have not listened to local stakeholders and the community, and have insisted on going ahead with a plan that will harm Knaresborough rather than help it.”
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