By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Bath is facing the loss of its city centre Post Office when the former WH Smith on Stall Street closes.
The Post Office has been based above the shop since 2019 but will close on September 1. The shop itself — which was renamed TG Jones last year — will close on September 10. Local MP Wera Hobhouse and councillors have met with the Post Office to urge it not to leave permanently.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Bath said: “Post Office counter services are essential in so many aspects of our daily lives and are even a lifeline for many. I will provide every support to Bath and North East Somerset Council to ensure future provision in the city centre for our residents.”
This could mean helping secure a suitable property if the Post Office was to seek to reopen in another shop. Council cabinet member Manda Rigby (Bathwick, Liberal Democrat) said: “The Post Office fulfils a service to our residents like no other institution. The Lib Dems are fighting for both a main office and the branches in Bath to continue to serve our population.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “We want to open a replacement branch as soon as possible. In the interim alternative branches will be Lower Weston and Battle Walk.”
They said: “We know how important our products and services are to the local community. We have already received expressions of interest from some retailers and we are now looking more closely at the interest expressed.”
The Liberal Democrats have urged people to sign a party-run petition calling for a Post Office to be reopened in Bath. The party said it could help to show the “large demand” for a city centre Post Office.
But Green councillor Joanna Wright (Lambridge) said this fell short of the action the council could be taking, and called on it to open a new Post Office in one of the many buildings owned by the council. The Post Office is understood to prefer to open as part of a shop.
In an open letter to the council leader, Ms Wright said: “Many residents will question the council’s priorities when it is prepared to invest £1.7 million of WECA funding to convert the former Post Office building into a Fashion Museum, yet there is no longer a Post Office serving the city centre.”
The WH Smith on Stall Street was renamed TG Jones last year after the high street aspect of the WH Smith business was sold to another company — only for the new owners to announce they were closing shops in 150 locations, including Bath.
You can sign the Liberal Democrat petition here: https://digitallibdems.typeform.com/to/sWx9Yi9u?typeform-source=www.bathneslibdems.org.uk
The image shows the MP Wera Hobhouse and Manda Rigby at the Post Office.
Bath Voice and Local Democracy Reporters
The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations. A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including Bath Voice. These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
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