Harrow Town Centre and Pinner Post Offices face closure

Harrow Town Centre and Pinner Post Offices to be saved following council motion

Harrow Council has voted to support the retention of post office services in both Harrow Town Centre and Pinner, following a cross-party motion that acknowledged the vital role these branches play in the community.

The motion, initially focused on the proposed closure of the TG Jones Post Office in St Ann's Shopping Centre in early 2027, was amended to include the Pinner Post Office, which also faced closure. Councillors expressed concern over the cumulative impact of service closures in the borough, particularly on elderly, vulnerable, and digitally excluded residents.

Councillor David Perry, who moved the original motion, highlighted the increasing loss of bank branches in Harrow Town Centre, stating that the post office is a crucial hub for essential face-to-face postal, banking, and cash services. He acknowledged the campaign led by Gareth Thomas MP for Harrow West, noting that the MP has started a positive public campaign to save the Town Centre Post Office and has managed to get some assurances through discussions with Post Office Ltd. The publicity generated by Mr Thomas has also driven expressions of interest in the service.

An amendment, moved by Councillor Paul Osborne and seconded by Councillor Ashish Halai, successfully incorporated support for the Pinner Post Office. Councillor Osborne argued that excluding Pinner would be insufficient, emphasizing that both locations provide vital links for residents.

During the debate, concerns were raised about digital exclusion and the importance of in-person services. Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman criticised Gareth Thomas MP's past role as a Post Office minister, suggesting a failure to protect the network. Councillor Janet Mote spoke about the impact of closures on Pinner residents.

The amended motion was carried, with the council resolving to write to Post Office Ltd expressing serious concerns and seeking a meeting to urge prompt action. The council also urged Post Office Ltd to work towards establishing a temporary or permanent Banking Hub in central Harrow as an interim safeguard. This Banking Hub is proposed as an interim safeguard to protect local cash and banking access for residents and businesses while actively securing a replacement postmaster. The council is urging Post Office Ltd to works immediately with the relevant authorities and Gareth Thomas MP to establish a temporary or permanent Banking Hub in central Harrow.

Councillor Rashmi Kalu, seconding the motion, noted the wider context of disappearing face-to-face services in Harrow, including library and bank closures, and stressed the need to look at the cumulative impact on communities.

The debate also touched upon the potential for innovative models for post office provision. Councillor Ashish Halai, Cabinet Member for Business, Employment and Property, suggested exploring models that could include post office provisions, shared banking facilities and other complementary business or resident services actually working alongside one another, bringing organisations together rather than allowing essential services to operate in isolation. The perceived benefits include bringing organisations together and providing proper face-to-face support, though challenges remain regarding commercially realistic thinking about locations, operators and long-term viability.