Post Office to remain in Grays town centre (From Thurrock Gazette)

Post Office to remain in Grays town centre

11:24am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in News By Matt Abbott

THE Post Office are going to provide a bus link to other stores in the area while their Grays Shopping Centre unit is revamped, it has been announced.

It had been feared that Grays town centre would be left without a Post Office after it was announced last year that WH Smith will be leaving the shopping centre.

But a solution has been reached that will see a bus link operate for two weeks while the store in the town centre, which the post office had been sharing with WH Smith, is reopened.

The WHSmith store will close on Saturday March 2, but the Post Office will reopen in the same shop on or before March 16.

While WH Smith move all of their stock out of the unit, which is one of the biggest in the centre, the Post Office have said there will be too many health and safety issues for them to remain open.

Posters explaining the bus service as well as the closure and opening dates will be put up around the town.

Council leader John Kent said the solution is not the best but is pleased the Post Office are keen to remain in the town. He added: "We were told the Post Office have been working with Smiths to ensure the break in service is as short as possible and in our meeting, the Post Office said they will be providing a bus link between the town centre and other post offices throughout this time.

"Unfortunately, while Smiths are removing all their stock and equipment the Post Office has to make sure its own stocks are fully secure.

"There would also be safety issues around the public having access to the shop when it is being dismantled.

"The council has done all it can to try and keep a seamless service in the town, offering the Civic Offices and the Thameside complex as possible temporary homes for the Post Office, but we have been told this is not possible.

"It’s not the best solution, but it is a solution. It shows that the Post Office values its customers as well as the importance of Grays and is determined to stay in the town which has to be good for the future."