Multiple Post Office branches inside Morrisons Daily convenience stores across England face imminent closure following a corporate restructuring decision by the supermarket chain to shut down 100 underperforming locations.
The retail company announced in May its decision to close these loss-making stores, many of which were former McColl's branches acquired out of administration in 2022, citing severe cost increases driven by government policy choices.
In West Hull, the upcoming closure of the Fairfax Avenue store means the local Post Office service will terminate on Sunday, August 9, leaving the Bricknell Ward without an integrated postal counter.
The situation has prompted local political leaders to launch immediate community interventions to safeguard essential banking and parcel services for residents.
"Bricknell residents face losing Post Office counter services in the ward when Morrisons in Fairfax Avenue closes in August," stated Dame Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Hull North and Cottingham, in social media posts.
The Member of Parliament organized a community campaign alongside Bricknell Ward Councillor Sharon Hofman to press for an alternative commercial location within the area.
Dame Diana Johnson added that she had launched the petition with Cllr Hofman "urging Post Office Ltd to secure another site in the ward for Post Office services".
Post Office Ltd confirmed the disruption and immediately opened a vacancy window until July 10 for nearby businesses interested in hosting the replacement postal facilities.
"Our retail partner has reviewed their Morrisons Daily store operations and has decided to close their store at Fairfax Avenue.
Consequently, the Post Office branch at this location will close on Sunday 9 August," said a Post Office spokesperson.
The company expressed awareness regarding the operational difficulties this commercial decision places on local retail customers and neighborhood enterprises.
"We fully recognise the inconvenience this will cause our customers and small businesses who rely on our banking and parcel services in particular.
We have now advertised the vacancy for the branch on our runapostoffice. co.
uk website," added the spokesperson.
The postal operator is actively seeking expressions of interest from independent merchants located near the affected sites.
"We welcome applications from nearby retailers looking to host a Post Office inside their store," the spokesperson noted.
Concurrently, a separate closure threat emerged in South Gloucestershire, where the Morrisons Daily on Downend Road entered a staff consultation period scheduled to conclude on July 16.
The potential termination of the Downend branch has raised significant alarms regarding financial accessibility for vulnerable populations following earlier regional bank branch closures.
"Downend residents deserve a good, working Post Office service, and with no bank remaining in the area, the potential loss would have a real impact on our community, particularly for older residents and those who depend on local access day to day," said Frenchay & Downend ward Councillor Liz Brennan.
The local representative communicated these specific neighborhood anxieties directly to corporate executives.
"I have written to Morrisons to raise the concerns residents have shared with me," stated Councillor Brennan.
Fellow ward representative Councillor Raj Sood warned that losing the retail site would severely impact local commerce and accessibility.
"Cost cutting is not always the best course and cash machines will never be able to replace the human touch," said Councillor Raj Sood.
The scheduled shutdown of multiple Morrisons Daily stores puts local Post Office counters at risk of permanent closure across several English communities.
