"We've been heard": Short term future of Cosham Post Office secured with experienced operator taking helm
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The future of the Post Office in Cosham has been secured with an experienced operator taking the reins.
Residents will be rejoicing that their local branch has been saved after fears of closure sprang up in November last year. Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin confirmed the news this morning and said over 2,500 residents joined the fight to save the site.
“We’ve been heard,” the Labour politician said in a statement on Facebook. “The Post Office has today confirmed that Cosham Post Office will stay open in its current location until next year, with extended opening hours on Tuesdays, while long-term arrangements and premises are finalised. This means no loss of service for our community, and more time to secure a permanent solution.”
Experienced operator
Ms Martin said the business may operate from the same location, but could move to another site on the high street. ZCO, an experienced operator that runs 21 post offices across the UK, will be taking the helm. The Labour politician said the new owners are committed to keeping existing services.
She added: “This would not have happened without you. Every single signature showed just how much local people care about keeping this vital service on our high street. I look forward to meeting with the new franchise owners in the coming weeks and reviewing its long-term plans for Cosham, and I’ll continue working to make sure we have a well-run Post Office branch for years to come. Thank you again for standing with me and with Cosham. This is our win.”
The Cosham branch was named among over 100 sites at risk in a nationwide shake-up. A total of 108 directly branches were earmarked to be transformed from directly managed branches to franchises. Reaction from the public and politicians was fierce, with the Cosham branch being one of the few places residents could access banking services.
A petition was launched and three cross-party motions were made by Portsmouth City Councillors at a full council meeting. Each of these condemned the proposed closures and highlighted the impact on residents. The future of the Slindon Street site remains uncertain.