A PARLIAMENTARY petition calling for the urgent reopening of a city-centre Post Office branch was launched this morning (Friday, November 6).

Jayne Kirhkam, Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth, has made the petition available for signing in person at her Truro constituency office, in Truro Community Library and at the Junction Spar on Lemon Quay.

Members of her team will also be visiting local businesses on Monday morning (November 9) to collect signatures from the retail community.

The city centre branch of the Post Office closed on Tuesday, October 6, ahead of the closure of its host store TG Jones the following weekend. Customers have since been directed to branches on the Trelander residential estate and Shortlanesend village, both of which are based in convenience stores and do not offer a full complement of services.

“Truro city centre needs a Post Office,” said Ms Kirkham. “Without a suitable temporary replacement, the closure has really affected residents and businesses in Truro.

“There is strong demand to reinstate the branch without delay. That is why I am launching this petition; I want to capture the strength of feeling on this issue and push to get a branch reopened as fast as possible.”

Meanwhile, the landlord of the former TG Jones building says he could “open the door tomorrow” if the Post Office wanted to return to its position at the rear of the store in the short- and potentially long-term.

Richard Starr said he had spoken to the Post Office both through a potential operator and directly. “I made the point: why is it closed? Let’s keep it open,” he said. “I’m willing to look at how we can make that work.”

Mr Starr has proposed creating a new frontage opening out onto The Leats, rather than having all customers accessing the property from Pydar Street. He also claimed the Post Office had yet to remove all its possessions from the premises.

“They are looking at other places, but this one is perfectly viable – why not focus on doing something with someone who is willing and able to do it now?” he added.

Ms Kirkham said: “I’ve heard from the landlord of the current site, and have raised his offer with the Post Office.”

Cllr Steven Webb, Truro city and Cornwall councillor for Moresk and Trehaverne, said Mr Starr’s proposal sounded “sensible and commendable on paper, but I think the Post Office is looking for a long-term solution, and we do not know as yet what or with whom.

“We need a Post Office in the city centre, and Truro is not going to go quiet in its demands for this. However, we are not alone – not in Cornwall, or even in the UK. We need to keep the pressure on, but we also need to trust the process.”

Several of Cornwall’s Post Office branches are set to close following parent company Modella Capital’s decision to slim down the number of TG Jones outlets. Camborne will shut up shop on November 23 and St Austell in January.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “We know how important our products and services are to the local community. The vacancy has already been advertised and we are reviewing applications. We will provide a further update on our plans as soon as we can.”