A post office in Newquay town centre is closing in the new year as the business is “no longer viable.”

Central Square Post Office in Fore Street is earmarked to shut on Monday, January 19.

Postmaster Paul Gatheridge states he decided to close as his customers are dwindling due to the many ways people can now send letters and parcels.

He says communication with the Post Office has also been difficult.

Mr Gatheridge operated the post office in Londis for 18 months before relocating to Central Square four years ago.

The announcement follows the main Post Office in East Street being among 115 Crown Post Offices across the country that are under threat of closure.

Mr Gatheridge said: “The post office will be shutting in January. Monday, January 19 will probably be the last day of opening.

“The main reason for the closure is because traffic is diminishing post wise.

“There are now so many companies out there now like Parcel Force and Yodel since our post office opened six years ago. People would post a parcel at the post office but over time that has gone.

“People can sit at home now and do it all online and have the parcel picked up from there.

“We get paid by commission so if people use other services like the Royal Mail pre-paid postage we don’t get a percentage. We have got overheads like rent to pay, business rates and staff to pay.

“If that commission goes down then the business is not viable. I thought if we do not get out now then the business is going downhill.

“It is not something that I want to do especially as the main post office could close.

“I did not hear that could happen until a week after I gave my notice in. It would not have changed my decision because I have not enjoyed working with the post office. They are not easy to work with as there is a lack of communication between the Post Office and the postmaster.

“Also, one of the problems we have running the post office is staffing. Staff need to be post office trained and I’m running it with one member of staff.

“There are a lot of little things and when you put them together you ask yourself is it worth operating a post office and it came to me that the answer is no.

“So, in two months the town centre might not have any post offices.”

The proposed opening of a Banking Hub in Newquay has also played a part in his decision to close the Post Office.

Mr Gatheridge said: “If the banking hub opened down the road it could take away 50 per cent of my business. It would finish me off financially.

“I told the Post Office the lease was coming up. Why they didn’t come over and take over the lease of our premises I do not know unless they have got somewhere else already tied up

“The premises has all the computers, software and alarms already installed.

“So little information gets passed to me. There are so many questions, and no one seems to have any information. I thought they make contact me to take the lease over, but the premises will now be opening as something different.”