Dismay over sudden closure of Middleton-in-Teesdale Post Office

THE sudden announcement that the Post Office in Middleton-in-Teesdale was due to shut this week has left people in the village stunned.

Confusion surrounds the closure after the couple who took over the HM Cooke haberdashery, in Horsemarket, left suddenly.

They had aimed to turn it into a sweet shop and Post Office. It has been claimed the rent was too high for their business plan to be profitable.

The family who owns the building and ran the former haberdashery then took over the running of the Post Office temporarily before its expected closure this week.

Post Office bosses say they are committed to continuing the service in the village and are looking for new premises.

Tyler Willcox, who was running the shop temporarily alongside her aunt, said: “If it were up to us we would keep the Post Office open but [it is not viable].” She added that she is advising people in the village to talk to Durham County Council, which had helped save the service in Crook after its Post Office closed.

Meanwhile, upper dale county councillor Ted Henderson believes the village is doomed if a solution cannot be found.

He said: “It is very much a blow. It is needed for people who come all the way from Forest and Harwood. If we don’t have a post office the village will die.” Cllr Henderson said problems with rent had forced the couple to abandon their dream of establishing a new business which they planned to transform into The Village Sweet Shop.

Cllr Henderson said he and fellow county councillor Richard Bell have concerns about the closure of businesses and hope to come up with a strategy to reverse the trend.

He said: “Both Richard and I are onto the Post Office to find out what can be done. We are waiting for them to come back to us. We were only told at the beginning of last week.”

He warned that the closest Post Office for people in the upper dale will now be at Eggleston Village Hall and its opening is limited to twice a week, on Monday and Friday between 9.30am and 1.30pm.

A spokesperson for the Post Office confirmed that the service at Middleton would stop “temporarily” at 5pm on Tuesday, August 15. The spokesperson added: “We know how important these services are to local residents and we would like to reassure customers that the Post Office is committed to maintaining a Post Office service in the area.

“We are seeking alternative premises for the Post Office so any local retailers interested in this business opportunity should contact us.”

Those interested can contact the Post Office on 0845 6016260, email NTquestions@postoffice.co.uk or visit www.runapostoffice.co.uk.