From post office to... a super-station

7:10am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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By Cathy Anstey »

WORCESTER'S main Post Office branch could become part of a new super station linking rail, bus and taxi services in the city.

The Post Office is relocating from Foregate Street to the first floor of the city's WH Smith shop in the High Street on Thursday, May 22.

Worcestershire County Council and London Midland rail bosses have already had preliminary discussions about whether the site could be bought and used to create a high-quality gateway station for the city centre.

The idea was revealed by London Midland business integration director Mike Haigh at the annual meeting of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG). It is planned to be discussed in secret session of the Worcestershire County Council cabinet meeting tomorrow.

County council cabinet member for environment Derek Prodger, who will be putting the idea to his colleagues, said: "We are interested in looking at the purchase of the Foregate Street Post Office building. The idea is fairly fresh.

"If we could acquire it, we could do a very good enhancement of the area. The county council is interested but I do need to get cabinet approval."

He said there were no detailed plans of how it would be developed but the idea would be to improve the facilities there and bring rail, bus and taxi services together, including a customer information centre on the site to make it easy for people to travel to, from and within the city.

The building, which has housed the city's post office since 1953, is owned by the Royal Mail Group, which has put the building on the market, and Foregate Street Station is owned by London Midland.

The post office is thought to have a guide price of about £800,000 but one city estate agent said up to £1m would have to be spent refurbishing and converting it for office and shops.

Coun Prodger said: "It is an opportunity for the county council. We will not be the only bidder for the building. It is a very prestigious location."

John Ellis, vice chairman of the CLPG - a voluntary organisation striving to safeguard and promote rail services - said they were very keen to see improvements at Foregate Street station.

He said: "The big problem is there is no car park and nowhere to set down and pick up. Access to the platforms is also a problem.

"The location is wonderful and we would welcome improvements and integration with other forms of transport."

Mr Ellis said once the university expands, it is expected many of the students will travel into Worcester by rail.

President of the CLPG Lord Faulkner of Worcester said: "I think it is an excellent idea.

"The station is in a wonderful situation and everybody keeps saying We must do something about Foregate Street station'.

"The important thing is that we take advantage of the opportunity this building provides."

• An employment tribunal will rule on whether staff were consulted adequately about the move of Post Office services to WHSmith, in a case brought by the Communications Workers Union.

The union says the pay of employees in franchised offices was "significantly lower" than that of directly employed staff.

The Post Office will argue at the tribunal - which is expected to last four days - that consultations with the union were extensive and detailed.

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