Delayed delivery of new town centre post office

HIGH STREET BRANCH ON HOLD UNTIL NEXT YEAR AS BUILDING IS UP FOR SALE

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT Local democracy reporter

THE opening of a new Post Office branch in Stockton town centre has been delayed until next year as the property announced to accommodate it goes up for auction.

The grade II listed former Furniture Express building on Stockton High Street was announced as the new home of the town's post office branch, which had closed with the Wellington Square WHSmith shop in May.

The Post Office first announced it would open in September, then the date was pushed back to October 22.

The branch has still not opened, almost a fortnight after the opening advertised by the Post Office.

And 148 and 148A High Street, including the former Furniture Express building, have gone up for sale on Rightmove, with a guide price of £150,000 advertising “an opportunity to acquire a pair of ground floor retail investment properties in the heart of Stockton-in-Tees town centre”, by public auction at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham on December 11.

However, the Post Office has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service a new postmaster has a lease for the premises.

It said the auction may change who owns the building, but that does not affect the lease.