This week I have written to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade seeking support to safeguard the future of the Post Office in Oldham, which has operated from within WHSmith since the closure of the Crown Post Office in 2019.
At the time, I made it clear that moving our Post Office into a private franchise left it vulnerable. Even then, WHSmith’s long-term future in the shopping centre was uncertain. Despite thousands signing a petition, a Westminster Hall debate, and repeated warnings, our concerns were ignored. Now, the situation we feared is playing out, after WHSmith’s has announced its closure in the Spindles Shopping Centre in May 2025.
The Council, as the freeholder, has said there are potential operators interested in taking it on, but it’s still unclear whether this will be a stand-alone Post Office or part of another franchise.
The Post Office isn’t just another shop—it’s a vital public service. With bank branches closing at an alarming rate, many residents, particularly older people, rely on it for banking services. Local businesses, health and social care providers, and education workers need it for ID checks. Losing it would cause huge disruption.
People in Oldham need a clear commitment that a Post Office will remain in the town centre. Public services shouldn’t be left on shaky ground, dependent on the fortunes of private businesses.
I have stressed the strong preference of people in our borough will be for a return of a standalone Crown Post Office, potentially even taking over the unit WHSmith is vacating. This would reduce waiting times, secure the service for the future, and provide certainty at a time when more high street banks are still at risk of closure.
Oldham is a borough of over 242,000 people. We need and deserve access to essential services and a sustainable Post Office network in our town.
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Jim McMahon OBE MP 