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15
Aug 2024
Post Office fails to win friends in Knaresborough amid silence over £370,000 debt
At a time when the Post Office's reputation could do with some improvement, the organisation has done little to endear itself to people in Knaresborough this summer.
Post Office Ltd announced this week the Knaresborough's branch will re-open under the same postmaster in Pharmacy+Health on High Street. No date was given.
But any joy at the resumption of a full postal service in the town was tempered by concerns about the suitability of the site and the postmaster — and Post Office Ltd's refusal to answer questions on the subjects.
The saga began on June 10 when Post Office Ltd, which has 11,500 branches, announced it was opening a consultation on plans to relocate the Knaresborough branch from its standalone unit at 49 High Street into the nearby pharmacy.
The branch closed suddenly the following day when the former premises were repossessed by the landlord, property firm Depho Estates Ltd.
The enforcement notice.
It emerged that postmaster Ankur Singh was sole director of VPS PVT Ltd, a company that operated several post office branches which went into liquidation owing more than £378,000.
A statement of affairs published on the Companies House website on June 13 revealed VPS PVT Ltd, which runs other post office branches, owed £269,180 to HMRC alone.
Depho Estates contacted the Stray Ferret in July to say it would be “flabbergasting” if Post Office Ltd allowed Mr Singh to continue operating in the town given the sums involved.
The company was equally forthright when that scenario came to pass this week. A spokesperson said:
We are absolutely astounded that the Post Office have entrusted Mr Singh to continue dealing with government and pensioner funds given the recent liquidation of his company owing HMRC over £250,000.
We have been in communication with the Post Office during this consultation period and have conveyed our interest and willingness to retain 49 High Street as the local Post Office. We have delayed any strip-out of this unit in the hope the Post Office would make the correct decision for the community and it could be reopened immediately with a new postmaster – we are aware of two individuals that have shown their eagerness to take this on.
In addition to the HMRC debt, along with many others, Mr Singh owes us as landlords £15,000 with a further estimated £25,000 in dilapidations.
Depho Estates accused Post Office Ltd of failing to communicate despite saying it would.
'Half-baked plan'
Others have also raised similar concerns about Post Office Ltd’s level of engagement and the limited scope of the six-week consultation, which did not offer the option of a new postmaster.
Tom Gordon outside Knaresborough's former Post Office.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said this week he was disappointed and frustrated with the decision and the lack of transparency.
Mr Gordon described plans to operate the Post Office in the pharmacy as “a half-baked plan that will hurt essential health services and provide a diminished Post Office service”.
He added:
To suggest that the previous operator has to be the one to run a reopened service is astounding.
How can Post Office Ltd, owned by the government, allow individuals who owe hundreds of thousands to HMRC to run contracts? When parliament returns, I will look to make this point to the postal minister at the earliest opportunity.
Post Office Ltd have dithered and delayed and ignored local residents. Simply put they have got this wrong. At a time when public trust with the Post Office is already at a low this will only further tarnish their reputation.
Peter Lacey, an executive member of business group Knaresborough & District Chamber, said it welcomed the resumption of a post office counter service but hoped “the level and continuity of service that is provided exceeds that of previous years under the same management”.
Mr Lacey added:
We are not confident that the process undertaken by the Post Office has addressed the historic failure to provide a good level of service and are equally disappointed at the abrupt cessation of the service and the length of time it has taken to come to this, potentially sub-optimal, solution. Knaresborough deserves a lot better, and the inconvenience caused to businesses and residents alike has been significant. We therefore remain vigilant.
Angela Pulman, clerk of Knaresborough Town Council, said it looked forward to the service reopening, adding its closure “has highlighted just how important such a service is for residents".
Andrew Hart and Asma Ola outside Starbeck Main Post Office.
The nearest full postal service is currently at the Red Box on Starbeck High Street, which is run by postmaster Andrew Hart.
Mr Hart, who was among those interested in running Knaresborough Post Office, said:
I have found the whole saga incredulous from beginning to end. Whatever happened to transparency, honesty, customer service and the traditions of the Post Office as a public institution?
The branch is now based in Pharmacy+Health on High Street.
'Excellent service'
Post Office Ltd issued a press release on Wednesday, which repeated what network provision manager Kenny Lamont had already said in the consultation decision notice online. He said:
After careful consideration of the feedback received, we remain confident that the layout and location of the new branch will continue to meet customer needs and deliver an excellent service, whilst securing the long-term viability of Post Office services in the local community.
We are also confident that the existing postmaster has a business plan to support both a successful and sustainable Post Office branch. We’re currently making the final arrangements for the opening and further information will be provided once the date has been agreed.
Post Office Ltd has sent only brief statements in response to questions from the Stray Ferret since June and has not answered any questions about what consideration it gave to VPS PVT's liquidation as part of the consultation.
When we sent further questions this week, a spokesperson said it would not be providing any additional information.
The saga raises questions about whether the recent national Post Office recent scandal has made the organisation ultra cautious when dealing with postmasters as well as whether it has behaved in a transparent and ethical manner.
Knaresborough may get its Post Office back soon — but while key questions remain unanswered, concerns are likely to linger.
The Stray Ferret has attempted to contact Mr Singh.
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