Yate’s Crown Post Office is facing an uncertain future as it may be handed over to a private franchise, eliciting criticism from Thornbury and Yate MP Claire Young. Expressing concern over the potential loss of vital postal services for communities in Yate, the MP decried the decision by the Post Office to transition all 115 Crown branches, including Yate’s, into new franchises without prior public consultation.
Highlighting her disappointment with the lack of public input in the decision-making process, Claire Young emphasized the potential long-term threat posed by the shift to a fully franchised model, cautioning that it does not necessarily safeguard against future closures.
In addition, the MP raised stability concerns regarding franchised branches, citing cases where post offices were relocated to stores like WHSmith, only for those stores to subsequently close, resulting in dual losses for the community.
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Intent on representing local voices and advocating for the preservation of the Yate branch, Claire Young plans to pursue a follow-up meeting with the Post Office to present a petition and ensure community involvement in the decision-making process.
Her petition, which has garnered over 1,300 signatures, can be accessed at claireyoung.org.uk/yate-post-office.