Fears for Didcot Post Office amid TG Jones ‘restructuring’

Owner of High Street business TG Jones, Modella Capital, which bought out the High Street branches of long-standing brand WH Smith last year, has embarked on a huge restructuring which will see up to 150 shops close.

Modella blamed ‘challenging retail conditions’ on the changes and a hearing to approve the restructuring plans in the High Court at the end of June heard the business was ‘highly distressed’.

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Securing a rescue deal rather than going into administration, the wide-ranging restructuring includes some 120 landlords will not receive rent for up to three years, and rent will be cut on hundreds of other stores by between 15 and 75 per cent.

On top of planned store closures, the extreme measures may result in some landlords choosing to cut their losses and terminate the TG Jones lease.

Olly Glover (Image: Oxford Mail)

Olly Glover, Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage, said if the TG Jones on Broadway in Didcot were to close, it would leave 37,000 residents of the town and others in nearby villages relying on just one Post Office branch, Georgetown.

It would also follow the controversial closure of East Hagbourne Post Office due to the resignation of the postmaster in February.

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Mr Glover said: “Not only would the post office face a significant increase in demand, but residents would also lose access to vital services such as passport applications, DVLA renewals and identity verification services, which are not available at this branch.

“I have written to Post Office Ltd outlining the impact these proposed changes would have on the community and the lack of nearby, accessible alternative services.”

Post Office has been approached for comment.