Formby Post Office: What’s REALLY Going On? A Week On and Still No Answers!

UPDATE: Formby residents can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the village’s main Post Office on Brows Lane is set to re-open today, Friday 14th November, at 1:00pm!

Original:

Formby’s main Post Office on Brows Lane has now been closed for over a week, and the lack of information has left the community increasingly anxious and frustrated. This branch has always been exceptionally busy, with queues often out the door, and its sudden closure has created a gap that many residents are struggling with — especially older people, parents, small business owners and those who rely on regular banking and postal services.

The closure happened without any warning. A simple notice was placed on the door stating that the branch was shut due to unforeseen circumstances, and no further explanation was provided at the time. We contacted the Post Office directly, and the Press Office responded:

“Formby Post Office closed on 4 November for operational reasons. It is not known when the branch will re-open. In the interim there is an alternative branch at Little Altcar. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this unplanned closure.”

Post Office on Liverpool Road, Formby:

While Formby still has a smaller Post Office counter inside Bargain Booze on Liverpool Road, which offers many of the core services, it is not designed to handle the volume usually managed at Brows Lane. Unsurprisingly, this has already led to longer waits and more pressure on remaining branches.

Local MP Bill Esterson has acknowledged the concerns and is pushing for answers. He said: “Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with me about the closure of Formby Post Office.”

“ I share the frustration about the sudden closure and the lack of information about why it happened. I have passed on the messages to the Post Office from residents that this is a popular branch providing vital services for local people. I agree it makes no commercial sense for it to remain closed.”

“I shall continue to press the Post Office to tell us why the branch closed and for it to be reopened without delay. As soon as I have news, I shall let everyone know.”

Many residents have also expressed confusion about how the UK postal system is structured. In simple terms:

Post Office Ltd, which operates the branches, is fully owned by the UK Government. The Government is ultimately responsible for ensuring communities have access to Post Office services.

Royal Mail, which handles letters and parcels, is entirely separate and is now privately owned, with a majority stake held by an overseas investor. This often leads to mixed messages, but the Brows Lane closure is a Post Office issue, not a Royal Mail one.

Across the country, the Post Office network is going through major changes. Branches may close suddenly when a postmaster leaves, when a lease expires, or when emergency operational issues arise. Some are being moved, franchised to retailers or relocated, and this often leads to temporary closures with little or no notice. In many cases, branches do eventually reopen once new arrangements are in place — although no guarantee has yet been given for Formby.

Given the size of Formby, the consistently high footfall at the Brows Lane site, and the Government’s obligation to maintain access to services, it is reasonable to expect that the Post Office will need to reinstate a full service in the village — whether by reopening this branch or providing a new location. At present, however, there is still no confirmed timeframe.

Santander services on a Wednesday-

In the middle of all this change, there has been some positive news. Santander has confirmed that personal, face-to-face banking support will continue to be available in Formby, even after their local branch closures. From Wednesday 20th August 2025, Santander will send a Community Banker to Formby every week.

Santander Community Banker – Formby

📍 Sefton Professional Development Centre

(Previously Ravenmeols Community Centre)

225 Park Road, Formby, L37 6EW

🕒 Every Wednesday, 9:30am – 4:30pm

These Community Bankers are experienced former branch staff who can assist with a wide range of personal banking queries. While this doesn’t replace a full branch, it ensures that local residents still have access to knowledgeable in-person support in Formby once a week.

Royal Mail Post Box on Brows Lane:

Separately, residents may have noticed the front of one of the village post boxes being removed.

This is not vandalism — it is being upgraded to a new high-tech model capable of accepting certain types of parcels, part of a wider modernisation programme.

For now, Formby is still waiting for a clear explanation and a plan for reinstating Post Office services. We will continue pushing for answers and will update the community immediately as soon as new information becomes available.