A RYEDALE councillor has criticised the “shocking” treatment of residents following the sudden closure of a town’s Post Office.

Councillor for Helmsley, George Jabbour, hit out at the Post Office when discussing the sudden closure of the town’s Post Office in August 2022 during a meeting of the Thirsk and Malton Area Constituency Committee.

As reported by the Gazette & Herald, the Cost Cutter in Helmsley, which also offered Post Office services closed in August 2022 with no prior warning.

Gazette & Herald: Cllr George Jabbour organised a protest outside the Post Office after it closedCllr George Jabbour organised a protest outside the Post Office after it closed (Image: George Jabbour)

A temporary solution was installed in October, but came to an end in November 2022 – meaning the town has been without Post Office services for almost five months.

Given this, residents must travel five miles to Ampleforth or six miles to Kirkbymoorside to use postal services. 

During the Thirsk and Malton Area Constituency Committee’s meeting on March 31, members reviewed the evidence and discussed the challenges that many people in rural areas face when postal and banking services are suddenly shut.  

The councillors voted unanimously to summon Post Office bosses to answer questions at the next meeting on June 16.

'Shocking' treatment

Cllr Jabbour said: "It is heartening to see how members of the committee from across the political spectrum came together to do the right thing and press the Post Office to provide answers.

"The way Helmsley's residents and businesses have been treated by senior managers of the Post Office is shocking.

Gazette & Herald: Cllr George Jabbour with the temporary solution that came to an end in NovemberCllr George Jabbour with the temporary solution that came to an end in November (Image: Cllr George Jabbour)

"Actions speak louder than words. It is not enough for the Post Office to keep repeating their apologies without delivering."

Cllr Nigel Knapton, chair of the Thirsk and Malton Area Constituency Committee, added: “The committee carried out an extensive discussion about the lack of postal and banking services in rural areas, such as our part of North Yorkshire, and reviewed documents and the evidence provided.

"Everyone agrees that no community should go through what Helmsley had to endure.  

“We will be writing to the Post Office to request that a representative attend our next meeting, which will take place in Helmsley on 16 June 2023 at 2pm.

“We will announce the venue of the meeting at the start of June.  

“Members of the public would be welcome to attend, but they can only speak for no more than three minutes for each speaker."

Read our past coverage of the situation: 

A Post Office spokesperson said: “We know how important a Post Office is to this community.

“We are still working hard to try to restore Post Office services to Helmsley as soon as possible.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the continued temporary closure of the branch. There have been a number of issues to overcome.

“We currently have an interested retailer.

“Talks are progressing. In the interim alternative branches include Ampleforth and Kirkbymoorside.”