Post Office Move to WH Smith’s Confirmed – Consultation Results Undisclosed

Published on: 21 Mar, 2019
Updated on: 23 Mar, 2019

By Hugh Coakley

Post Office Ltd have confirmed the move of Guildford Town Post Office from the top of North Street to WH Smith in the High Street but would not reveal the results of their public consultation.

The relocated branch will be operated by WH Smith High Street Ltd, and will be known as Guildford Post Office.

The post office will move to WH Smith in the High Street on Thursday, May 16.

The announcement, made in a general letter to customers, said that opening hours for the post office would be increased compared to the current post office hours in the North Street branch. Sunday opening would now be included as well as earlier opening and later closing on Monday to Saturday. The new opening hours will be 8.30am to 6.30pm.

The existing Guildford Town post office at the top of North Street will close on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. There is no news as to new tenants for the building.

There were 287 responses to the public consultation which ran from November 7 to December 19 last year. Key issues raised included access to the post office within WH Smith’s and staffing.

(See also: Guildford Post Office to move to WH Smith in the High Street)

Post Office Ltd said in their letter that: “The branch will operate from a newly built dedicated open-plan Post Office area located to the left-hand side of the store on the first floor, which can be accessed by a customer lift, an up escalator and stairs.”

Letter from Post Office Ltd announcing the decision to move the North Street Post Office to the High Street. Click to enlarge in a new window,

Regarding staffing, the announcement stated: “We will do all that we can to find a solution that works for each individual [employee] within the options available. Any person employed to work in the new Guildford Post Office will be trained to the highest Post Office standards.”

The letter did not indicate whether the move was positively supported or not in the consultation. The Guildford Dragon NEWS asked Post Office Ltd for more detail on the consultation responses. But a Post Office Ltd spokesperson said: “That’s all the information we publish about the consultation.”

The Post Office had made it clear in November 2018 that the consultation was not seeking comments on the commercial decision to move the North Street branch but only for feedback on local issues and the confirmed decision is unsurprising.

Nearby traders remain fearful that the post office move will affect footfall at the top of North Street.

Guildford Post Office Memorial to employees who died in the Great War. Post Office Ltd said: “We are working with Royal Mail to identify the most appropriate place to relocate the memorial.”

Share This Post