A TEMPORARY solution to restore postal services to Helmsley via a mobile Post Office started yesterday evening (October 6) - and has been met with criticism from businesses in the town.
The mobile office will visit Helmsley’s Market Square on Mondays from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, Thursdays from 5pm to 6pm and on Fridays from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
It offers Post Office services including parcel drops offs, cash deposits and cash withdrawals.
The mobile office has been set up in response to the sudden closure of the Costcutter in Helmsley, which also offered essential Post Office services, in August.
A Post Office spokesperson told the Gazette and Herald: “We know how important a Post Office is to this community and we continue to work towards restoring a permanent, full-time, solution at the current location as soon as possible. In the meantime, other branches include Ampleforth and Kirkbymoorside.”
Helmsley's County Councillor, George Jabbour, was present at the first visit from the mobile office.
As reported by the Gazette and Herald, the temporary solution was introduced after Cllr Jabbour met with Helmsley residents on September 29 to protest against the decision to close the branch.
Cllr Jabbour said: “We continue to focus all our energy on finding a permanent full-time provision to restore the complete set of Post Office services to Helmsley immediately.
“This course of action involves Costcutter re-opening the premises that had been occupied by the business that went into administration. This will enable our community, residents and businesses to have the same essential Post Office services as before.
“I have contacted Westgates Restructuring, the insolvency practice that is dealing with this matter, to urge them to speed things up as this is in the interest of everyone.
“I cannot emphasise enough that what we have at the moment is only a temporary solution. However, I was pleased to see the smile on the faces of the residents who used the Post Office mobile branch in its first visit to Helmsley today.”
Speaking after the announcement of the temporary service, Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, said: “I welcome the temporary mobile arrangement, but this still leaves many without access to vital post office and banking services.
“I have been in contact with the Managing Director of Bestway, the owners of the Costcutter brand, to stress the problems the community is facing and press for an urgent resolution.
“As the previous operator has now gone into administration it is not clear when the problem will be resolved, but I am confident that a new operator will reopen the shop as soon as these matters are resolved.”
Businesses in Helmsley have criticised the mobile unit.
Kyle Boote, who owns the Helmsley Brewing Company, on Bridge Street, explained that the one hour opening slots of the office means it is very difficult for businesses to benefit from the service.
“That doesn’t sound like a solution to me,” he said.
Mr Boote, went on to say that these limited hours mean it is not possible for businesses to deposit money after doing a daily cash up.
He explained that using the Post Office for cash deposits and withdrawals is particularly vital given that the closure of Barclays Bank in February has significantly limited the town's available banking services.
Joan Calvert-Brown from Carter’s Countrywear, on Market Place in Helmsley, was also critical of the mobile office.
Ms Calvert-Brown said: “It’s just a crazy situation. The whole thing is hideous.
“What about if it is pouring with rain when people are queuing?”
She echoed Mr Boote's concerns about it now being difficult to withdraw cash in the town and explained how if the store's card payment system goes down it is difficult to manage cash payments.
A spokesperson for Libby Butlers Jewellers, on Borogate in Helmsley, also hit out at the mobile unit.
Speaking on Twitter, the spokesperson said: “Should we just tell customers to order Thursdays and Fridays then? This is not a solution Post Office; it is a joke. Helmsley needs a permanent full-service Post Office.”
Should we just tell customers to order Thursdays and Fridays then? This is not a solution @PostOffice it is a joke. Helmsley needs a permanent full service Post Office https://t.co/LNTrLytpCy
— Libby Butler Jewellers (@LibbyButlers) October 4, 2022
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