Aylesbury High Street store closure confirmed with post office departing
A high street store in Aylesbury is set to close this summer with its post office counter service also ending.
The Post Office confirmed that the TG Jones store in Aylesbury High Street is set to close this summer.
It was confirmed by the national service provider that its post office counter inside the store will be closing.
A spokesperson for the Post Office confirmed to The Bucks Herald that the stationary shop is closing permanently on August 18.
Sources with knowledge of operations at TG Jones neither confirmed or denied the closure date or that the Aylesbury unit is one of 150 shops it is planning to close in the UK.
The post office inside TG Jones, which was renamed last year after Modella Capital purchased WH Smith stores across the UK, is the only one located in Aylesbury town centre.
The Post Office is advising customers that it has nearby counters in the Elmhurst and Meadowcroft areas of Aylesbury. It also confirmed that a closure date is being finalised for the counter. The Post Office also revealed that it has fielded offers from Aylesbury businesses interested in filling the town centre vacancy and is in the process of reviewing applications.
A High Court ruling will enable Modella to shut 150 of its stores in the UK as part of a rescue deal. The High Court heard that the parent company was facing insolvency if it did not restructure its business and it was facing an £8 million shortfall.
At the time of writing TG Jones has not released a full list of the shops that will close as a result of the ruling announced on July 1. Modella revealed in the hearing that a challenging retail market was a primary cause for its financial problems. However, the company also referenced the name change and rebrand as having a negative impact on the business.
A Post Office spokesperson told The Bucks Herald: “We fully recognise the challenging trading conditions that TG Jones and many other High Street retailers are facing at the moment. TG Jones had its Restructuring Plan approved by the High Court on July 1, which includes seeking new commercial terms with landlords for the majority of their estate. Consequently, TG Jones is closing their Aylesbury store on August. 18 The date for the closure of Aylesbury Post Office is being finalised.
“We know how important our products and services are to the local community. The vacancy has been advertised and interest has been expressed. We are in the early stages of reviewing applications. We will provide a further update on our plans as soon as we can. We apologise for any inconvenience to customers whilst we work hard to replace Aylesbury Post Office as quickly as possible.
“In the interim alternative branches include Elmhurst, Meadowcroft, Parton and Harvey Road.”
Upon the closure of the high street counter Aylesbury will have four post offices operating in the town but none that can match the TG Jones store’s central location.