St Helier's Central Market post office to close down

Image caption, The Central Market post office branch will close at the end of June

Jersey's Market post office could be opened as a postal shop by a rival to Jersey Post.

The postal service said it was closing the branch from the end of June, as it has opened a new branch in the nearby Co-op Homemaker store in Don Street.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Market branch, opened in 1972, to remain open.

HubEurope, which has applied for a licence to deal with bulk mail, has said it wants to lease the branch.

Waiting for licence

In a statement HubEurope said the "anticipated postal licence would prevent the company from delivering ordinary letter post, but would allow the processing of large letters and packets, supporting a number of existing Central Market stallholder businesses".

The firm also plans to offer foreign exchange services, cheque cashing services, sales of mobile phone top-up cards and stamps.

Christopher Bee, director of HubEurope, told 大象传媒 Jersey: "In order to get the full benefit it would go hand in hand with a licence.

"Currently we have been delayed until September, pending an economic efficiency review of Jersey Post.

"We were previously promised an answer in July, and before that in May, so we are hopeful that we may have a decision from the JCRA Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority."