'A devastating loss,' customers say as 'popular' post office branch closes permanently in hours

Residents have cried “devastating loss” as a “popular” post office branch is set to close permanently within hours.

Residents who rely on the post office on Islingword Road in Brighton were devastated to learn it was to close for good today.

GettyThe Post Office branch on Islingword Road, Brighton, closes today(/caption)

Fans dubbed it the “center and heart” of their community and were disappointed to see it go after the postmaster resigned.

However, it is understood that the site will reopen under new ownership.

But there is no opening date or further information available yet.

A heartbroken postal worker expressed his frustration on social media.

They wrote: “It is a devastating loss, indeed, and one can only hope that the local community will be able to recover in time.”

“It will be a great loss to the local community. It’s a popular place,” added another.

A third disheartened resident agreed: “I used this service a lot when I lived in Brighton, it was much better than another service much closer to home. This will be a huge loss indeed.”

Someone else wrote: “Post offices are the centre and heart of local communities. The post office scandal has been tragic and the way postmasters have been treated is beyond sickening.”

“This is a terrible loss and it is to be hoped that someone will come forward to manage it. With banks closing down in droves to increase their obscene profits, people are now more reliant on their Post Office than ever before,” they added.

Following the closure, the nearest post offices for residents are at Lewes Road, St George’s Road, St James’s Street and London Road, all in Brighton.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “With a network of more than 11,500 branches across the country, there are times when a post office closes or opens.

“We know how much customers rely on our messaging and banking services.

“We are the only retailer that, where possible, is looking to open a new post office on the same site or close to where the old post office was.”

The move comes after the Post Office confirmed the closure of three branches last year, dealing a blow to local residents.

Why are retailers closing stores?

Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending amid soaring living costs.

High energy costs and the shift to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll, with many city centre stores struggling to maintain business.

The high street has seen a series of closures over the past year, with more to come.

The number of jobs lost in UK retail fell last year, but 120,000 people still lost their jobs, figures show.

Figures from the Retail Research Centre revealed that 10,494 stores closed for the last time in 2023 and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.

This is a lower number of stores than have been lost in several years, and down from the 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.

Centre director Professor Joshua Bamfield said the improvement was “less bad” than good.

Although major brands suffered losses, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as the owner of Topshop, Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.

“The cost of living crisis, inflation and rising interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing their retail spending,” Professor Bamfield said.

“Retailers themselves have suffered from rising energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand, making rebuilding profits after extended store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”

Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it went bust, the biggest failures of 2023 include Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.

According to the Retail Research Center, most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganize and cut costs rather than because the company was going bankrupt.

However, experts warn that there will likely be more bankruptcies this year as consumers tighten their belts and borrowing costs soar for businesses.

The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have gone bust already this year.

Sites have been closed in Surrey, Aberdeenshire and Norfolk.

But it was not all bad since these closures occurred after a number of openings.

The company welcomed new branches in Shropshire, West Yorkshire, Port Glasgow and London in 2023.

The Post Office also opened a new branch in Oxfordshire last month.

The number of post offices in the UK has declined significantly since the 1960s, when there were around 25,000 in operation.

This is partly because more people have started receiving their social benefits and pensions directly into their bank accounts, and so have less need for the Post Office’s services.

Post offices used to be the only place you could buy postage stamps, but now you can pick them up at supermarkets and gas stations.

The number of branches operating in the UK has remained around 11,500 over the last decade.

THE POSTAL SCANDAL – TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS

1999

The Horizon IT system begins to be rolled out to post offices across the UK.

– 2000

Alan Bates reports problems with the Horizon computer system.

– 2003

Alan Bates’ contract has been terminated after he refused to take responsibility for deficits in the accounts of his Llandudno branch in north Wales.

– 2004

Lee Castleton, of Bridlington, East Yorkshire, was found guilty of a £25,000 deficit at his branch and was declared bankrupt after losing his legal battle with the Post Office.

– 2009

Computer Weekly magazine reveals the story of seven sub-postmasters who begin their fight for justice.

The Alliance for Justice for Sub-Postmasters is created.

– 2010

Pregnant sub-postmistress Seema Misra, who ran a post office in West Byfleet, Surrey, has been jailed after being accused of stealing £74,000.

– 2015

Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells told the business selection committee there was no evidence of a miscarriage of justice.

La Poste ends proceedings against sub-postmasters.

– 2017

Legal action has been taken against La Poste by a group of 555 sub-postmasters.

– 2019

A High Court judge found that Horizon contained a number of “bugs, errors and defects” and that there was a “significant risk” that deficits in Post Office accounts were caused by the system.

The Post Office has agreed to pay £58m to its 555 sub-postmasters.

Post Office Director Paula Vennells is appointed CBE.

– 2020

La Poste does not oppose 44 appeals against convictions of sub-postmasters.

– 2021

Statutory inquiry into Horizon system failures and wrongful convictions of sub-postmasters begins.

Court of Appeal overturns 39 wrongful convictions handed down by the Crown.

– 2023

The government has announced that each wrongly convicted sub-postmaster will be offered £600,000 in compensation.

– 2024

ITV drama series Mr Bates vs The Post Office airs for the first time.

The Metropolitan Police say they are looking into “potential fraud offences arising from these prosecutions”, such as “monets recovered from sub-postmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions”.