Everything from cashing cheques and giros to collecting mail and sending parcels in Epsom could be made more difficult after a winding up order was issued to the High Street post office's leaseholder.

The future of the post office in Epsom would be of particular imprtance to older people in the town unable to services in Ewell, Ashtead or Suttton, according to the chief officer of a local charity.

Users of the branch, which is based inside Costcutter, first noticed the site's long-term future was in jeopardy when signs appeared in the window saying it would be temporarily closed on Saturday, January 21.

The closure being ‘temporary’ was backed up by a Post Office spokeswoman, but the site's landlord, Primeco, said it could be made permanent after an offer of a new lease was rejected.

An alternative to closure could be for a new leaseholder to take over the branch's running.

A Costcutter spokeswoman said: “The vast majority of our stores are owned by independent retailers, as was this store in Epsom.

"Unfortunately, the owner has taken the decision to close the store and at present we are unable to confirm whether it will reopen.”

The branch’s leaseholder, Community Brokers International, was wound up by Deputy District Judge Batstone at the High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) in Bristol on January 19.

Staff at the court confirmed this over the phone to the Epsom Guardian, but would not send a copy of the order without receiving a fee.

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Community Brokers International’s listing on Companies House states that its accounts and annual returns are overdue, and there is an ‘active proposal to strike (it) off’.

The Post Office had been offered a new lease on the property with immediate effect, on the same terms, but according to site owners Primeco it was rejected.

The Post Office spokeswoman would not confirm or deny the offer or the rejection, because “discussions with landlords and postmasters are in commercial confidence”.

A post office spokesperson said: “Epsom operates with a postmaster on a temporary basis and discussions with landlords and postmasters are in commercial confidence.”

The Post Office spokeswoman meanwhile advised that the nearest alternative post offices are:

  • West Ewell, 248 Chessington Road, Epsom, KT19 9XF
  • Ewell Post Office, 4-5 Market Parade, High Street, Epsom, KT17 1SL
  • Poole Road Post Office, 53 Poole Road, Epsom, KT19 9SQ
  • Drift Bridge Post Office, 213 Fir Tree Road, Epsom, KT17 3LB
  • Ashtead Post Office, 39 The Street, Ashtead, KT21 1AA
  • Ewell Court, 179 Kingston Road, Epsom, KT19 0AA (Passport check & send)
  • Sutton Post Office, 19 Grove Road, Sutton, SM1 1DX (for AEI machine)

Dorah May Hancock, chief officer of Age Concern Epsom and Ewell, said: "Age Concern Epsom & Ewell hopes that a full Post Office service will be restored in Epsom town centre as quickly as possible.

"This is of particular importance to the older people who live in the borough who may not easily be able to travel elsewhere for services that are very important to them."

A spokesman for the Postmasters Branch of the Communication Workers Union said  that despite a £2 billion investment over the last five years, the union had noticed temporary branch closures nationwide “in excess of 1,000” and “increasing weekly”.

He added: “Whilst the Postmaster of Epsom Post Office is not a member of our Union we regret the closure of this Branch and its loss to the local community.

“We are noticing that the loss of Post Offices is becoming a growing trend.

“The Post Office’s so called modernisation program has failed and is fast becoming a closure program.”

Doubt had initially been cast over the post office's immediate future by a spokesperson for Costcutter - in which the post office in Epsom High Street is based - who confirmed the closure of the High Street store. At the time they were "unable to confirm whether (the store) will reopen".

The Epsom Guardian has been unable to comment Community Brokers International for comment. 

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