Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Reigate Post Office Campaign Ends In Success

Following the closure of 4 sub post offices and Morrisons formal notice to quit to the Post Office from June 2005, there has been a determined campaign to preserve a main post office in Reigate. In addition to public petitions, the latest led by Reigate resident Simon Harding, and local media coverage, Crispin Blunt MP and Reigate councillors have been in ongoing contact with the Post Office and other interested parties.

Crispin Blunt and Cllr Scott Colvin met with Richard Barker, General Manager of the Post Office Urban Network, responsible for Post Office provision in all UK towns, at Crispin Blunt’s office in the House of Commons.  Crispin Blunt has also been in discussion with Morrisons, former local post office managers, and he has taken advice from Postmaster Network.

Today it can be announced that Reigate will continue to have a post office. The  facility will be provided by TM Retail Group, the parent company of More. TM Retail will operate a post office providing everything from vehicle licence renewals to banking services, from 9th May 2005, at the More store at 27/29 High Street, Reigate.
 
Commenting today Crispin Blunt MP said:

“A lot of people have been working hard to ensure the future provision of post office  services in Reigate. The loss of the Post Office at Morrisons with no replacement would have been wholly unacceptable. The decision by TM Retail to take on the Post Office franchise is a welcome relief.  I am delighted that the threat of no Post Office at all in Reigate has been lifted, but the way the sub post office network was butchered is not forgotten.  I am grateful to all of those who signed petitions, wrote letters, and in any way helped local councillors and myself put pressure on the Post Office to keep a proper facility in Reigate.”

Alan Brook, National Post Office Manager for TM Retail said: “At a time when the presence of the major multiples is growing and causing much concern to neighbourhood retailers, we continue to believe that there is a viable future for neighbourhood retailers who have a true understanding of local customers.

TM Retail, which trades under the names of Forbouys, Martins, More and McColls stores is making a determined effort to keep Post Offices open in communities and now operates some 423 Post Offices in its stores across the UK.

We continue to provide those services that the major multiples do not and this has resulted in us opening more Post Offices in areas such as Reigate as TM sees the Post Office as a vital constituent in the maintenance of thriving and sustainable local communities.”

From May 9th Reigate residents will have all their Post Office needs met with a brand new 4 counter facility within the More store with opening hours from 09.00 to 5.30 Monday to Friday and 09.00 to 12.00 on Saturdays”.