End of an era for post office in Spen

Littletown Post Office is leaving its current home in 24 Listing Lane, to move into the Nisco Food and Wine store just 45 metres away.

The post office is currently run by business partners Khaliq Loonat and Miriam Lunat, who will also be leaving the company.

Khaliq said: “It will be quite sad to say ‘bye’ to the place.

“I have been working here, in total for nearly 10 years, and have got to know all the customers, so it is a way of life for me. But I think it was one of those things that had to be done – financially, it was the best option.”

The post office stood at the site for decades, and appears on photographs dating back to the 1940s.

The site had closed in March 2009 after former postmaster David Whiteley retired after 22 years. The site was reopened by Khaliq and Miriam in 2010.

Khaliq said the move is expected to take place in the first two weeks of August.

He added: “It isn’t like we have been forced into this or anything – we made the decision by ourselves.

“There are a lot of competitors, with all the new courier companies that are around we thought it would be best for everyone to do this.”

A leaflet given out to customers states the new site, would have longer opening hours with the majority of services still available.

Aidan Wales, Post Office’s regional network manager, said: “The move of this branch is part of a three-year investment and support programme – the largest in the history of the Post Office.”

Unlike the current site, the new site will not include services such as travel insurance and Premium Savings Bond services, but they will be available in Heckmondwike.

However, services will now be available seven days a week until 9pm.