Ken Skates MS gives Ruabon Post Office update after Morrisons takeover of McColl’s

Hopes are high that Ruabon could have a new Post Office in early 2023.

Following the announcement that McColl’s in Ruabon will close in the new year, local MS Ken Skates and councillor Dana Davies have been in regular contact with the Post Office to press for counter services to be retained in the village.

After a review of the area, the Post Office confirmed it was advertising for a new premises. This week, the company told Mr Skates: “We now have applications for Ruabon Post Office, which is great news. Therefore, we have closed the advert on our website. Applications can take a few months to progress and if successful a further communication will be shared with you and the community when we have a confirmed proposal for a replacement branch.”

Mr Skates, Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South, previously said the closure of McColl’s ‘will undoubtedly leave a huge hole on the High Street’. He and Cllr Davies have also been in contact with Cardtronics UK, which operates the McColl’s cashpoint, to try and secure a new location.

This week Mr Skates said: “The fact that there are multiple applications for a new Post Office can only be a good thing. We will now await the outcome and keep our fingers crossed.”

The Ruabon McColl’s branch was one of 132 loss-making stores identified for closure following the company’s takeover by Morrisons. The supermarket group said 55 of those include Post Office counters and would remain open until after the Christmas period.

However, there appears to be less positive news regarding the cashpoint.

Cardtronics UK previously told Mr Skates and Cllr Davies that it was keen to relocate it within the village. But in a short email this week, it said: “The ATM has been scheduled to be removed on the 5th January 2023.”

Cllr Davies said: “After initially saying it wanted to retain a cashpoint in Ruabon, I’d be extremely disappointed if Cardtronics UK has gone back on that and made a final decision to give up on finding a new location already. It’s the only one in the village, and people won’t be happy if it turns out the company was just paying lip service to Ruabon. We have gone back to Cardtronics for clarification.”