Hundreds back campaign to save Hemel Hempstead post office from closure

The Morrisons Daily store located in Grovehill is expected to close permanently later this year. If the shop does close the post office also located in Henry Wells Square would close up for good.

A Grovehill information service claims the store will close permanently on July 12 and the Post Office confirmed to the Gazette that it is advertising for a branch vacancy within Hemel Hempstead.

At the time of writing, a petition launched calling for the post office to be saved from closure has attracted 1,043 signatures.

Alexander Bhinder, who launched the petition, writes: “For residents of Grovehill, the closure of the Morrisons Daily store on Henry Wells Square has been a significant blow. But losing our beloved post office along with the store closure adds an entirely new level of hardship to our community. Many of us rely on the post office for daily necessities, whether it be sending letters, collecting packages, or accessing financial services. This facility is not just a convenience—it's a vital part of our community's fabric.”

It was confirmed last month that Morrisons was planning to close nearly 100 of its ‘daily’ convenience stores in 2026. Morrisons said a number of its businesses have been “challenged for a number of years” and were loss-making sites.

"This situation has been exacerbated in more recent years by significant cost increases resulting from government policy choices, which have made returning these stores to profitability even more difficult,” a spokesperson for the company said. This is believed to be a reference to the Labour Government’s decision to raise National Insurance and the legal minimum wage.

Hemel Hempstead MP David Taylor has backed the campaign to save the post office. He said: “I know the planned closure of the Morrisons Daily and Post Office in Grovehill is concerning for residents.

"My office is working with councillors Alex Bhinder & Julie Banks to keep a Post Office in the area,” he added.

The Grovehill Community Website estimates that around 9,000 people are served by the post office.

Councillor Bhinder added in his statement: “Having lived in Grovehill and spoken to many fellow residents, it's clear that there is widespread anger and sadness about this impending loss. For seniors, individuals without reliable transportation, and busy working families, the absence of a local post office would mean additional travel and inconvenience, not to mention the loss of a community touchpoint where we meet and connect.

“Statistics show that communities that lose essential services such as post offices often suffer economically and socially. A study by Post & Parcel indicates that post offices serve as an economic lifeline for small communities, helping to sustain local businesses and foster social ties. It is estimated that for every pound spent in a post office, an extra 50 pence is generated for the local economy.”

A spokesperson for the Post Office said: “Our retail partner, Morrisons have reviewed their Morrisons Daily store operations and, subject to colleague consultation, are proposing to close their store at Grove Hill. Consequently, the Post Office branch at this location would also need to close. We fully recognise the inconvenience this will cause our customers who rely on our banking and parcel services in particular

“Should the decision be confirmed that the store is closing, the store and Post Office would close later this year. We have advertised the vacancy for the branch on our runapostoffice.co.uk website. We welcome applications from nearby retailers looking to host a Post Office inside their store.”