Great Greenford Crown Post Office will be re-advertised to be franchised to a retail partner, it was announced today (August 5).
The advert for the post office in Greenford Road went live at midday and will be open for applications for 28 days.
The Post Office said: “We are pleased to confirm we have received viable leads from potential retail partners for Great Greenford.
“When we have interest from potential partners, who have not previously applied, we have to reopen the application window to give them the opportunity to formally register their interest. Doing this gives any other interested parties a chance to apply too.”
The Post Office has previously advertised for Great Greenford twice but this time it is also asking retail partners whether they would be interested in running the branch from these premises.
Huw Davies, a Communications Workers’ Union representative for Crown Office counter staff in the Greater London area said: “It’s deeply disappointing that further franchising is again being considered when there are so many negative connotations linked with this model.
“Amongst many other issues, we have three main concerns about the Post Office’s proposals: lack of adequate facilities provided if relocated to new premises; detrimental impact on the service provided to the public; no guarantee of long-term service provision by the franchisee.
“The Post Office should listen to the voice of the customer and their elected local representatives; we have several hundred signatures from local residents on our petition opposing the proposed franchise”.
The Post Office listed 70 Crown Offices for potential franchising in February 2013.
So far, 25 have been franchised. Where no retail partner can be found, the branch will remain as a Crown Office.
