New site for Mossley Post Office?

MOSSLEY’S Post Office may yet be saved as a new site is being looked at.

The Correspondent told how the town’s only facility, on Manchester Road, had been earmarked for closure.

Thursday, February 8 is the date the branch in Bottom Mossley will follow the way of Top Mossley, which lost its Post Office last March.

However, the firm has confirmed it is seeking a new site which would keep it in the area – and one has come forward.

In a letter it says: “We are writing to inform you that, regrettably, following the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use, the above branch will be closing temporarily on Thursday 8 February 2024 at 17:00.

“The provision of a Post Office service to our customers in the local community is important to us, and we will continue to work hard to restore services in the area as soon as possible.

“I would like to assure you that we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community.

“In exploring this, it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited.

“We have an applicant in progression, and we will update customers.

“We would like to apologise for the inconvenience the temporary closure may cause.”

News of the closure, and the way it was delivered, is another bitter blow to sub-postmaster Idu Miah, who found himself caught up in the Horizon Scandal – which has seen more than 1,000 caught up in issues relating to faulty accounting software, which created false shortfalls in their accounts and even saw some jailed.

He had to step down for their investigation, meaning that for the past 16 months, another employee has been working there as a counter clerk.

He has still been working there as it is his business and he also owns the building, but the Post Office have not paid him any wages.

Nor have they paid rent, rates or utility charges for use of the premises.

He said: “The Post Office are now saying that the business is no longer viable, which I don’t understand because it is well used by local people and businesses.

“This move comes after many years of worry and damage to my health, caused by the Horizon Computing System, which has affected my personal relationships with family and employees, who have also been caught up in the problem.

“I have lost thousands from my own pocket, which I paid to cover the accounting shortfalls.

“I put in a valid claim to the Post Office, over three years ago, for repayment of the monies I had paid out, and for compensation.

“Thanks to support from my MP, Jonathan Reynolds, I have received some money back, which has helped.

“But I have still been paying out of my own pocket to keep their business open. I am still owed much more. When the post office closes, I will have to sell the building.”

This decision means the nearest Post Offices will be in Carrbrook, Greenfield, Uppermill, Ashton or Stalybridge.

Even though a new site may be close to being identified, it has not quelled Mr Reynolds’ anger.

He said: “I’m very upset about the ‘temporary closure’ of Mossley Post Office.

“This is not the right way to treat the community, and not the right way to treat Idu, who has already survived the Horizon Scandal at great personal expense.

“A town the size of Mossley must have a functional post office service and we have already lost the Post Office in Top Mossley.”

A Post Office spokesperson told The Correspondent: “We are working hard to restore service to the area as soon as possible.

“We have an applicant for the vacancy currently and hope this will result in a successful outcome shortly.”

When pressed on the apparent lack of notice, they added: “Mossley Post Office had been run on a temporary basis, which allowed us to maintain service, however, that arrangement could be cancelled with very short notice by the landlord, which is why we could not give longer notice on this occasion.”