Post office saved at new location (From Gazette Series)

Post office saved at new location

THE FUTURE of a market town Post Office has been secured.

Wotton-under-Edge businessman Nick Wadey announced yesterday that he would run the town's Post Office after a lease on 16 Long Street had been agreed.

In 2003 the One Stop Shop, where the current Post Office is located, was sold to Tesco. It was thought the service would remain there, but in August 2004 Tesco announced that the post office would have to be relocated and residents and town councillors feared the service would be lost.

Confirming the news Mr Wadey said: "I have now started work on the shop. It will be tough from a business perspective to keep it viable and it will need to do well in its retail and post office sales maintaining at least current levels of Post Office volume. Hopefully we will get the local support required to sustain it as a business.

"I would like to give thanks for the support and feedback received through this difficult period of actually enabling the transfer from Tesco and now look forward to transforming 16 Long Street."

The relocated post office will have two counters and will be capable of doing post office services and retail sales together. It will also extend on current services to include one stop travel services including passports, travel insurance, dollars and Euros, as well as banking and financial services.

The post office will also sell a range of cards, stationary, gifts and toys.

Mr Wadey added: "The transfer date from the existing site could be as late as June 20 as there is much preparation required around systems - hopefully it will be sooner."

Wotton Town Council chairman Chris Galbraith said: "It is great news. We couldn't have existed without a post office. We have got to thank everybody who has worked so hard to get it moved because it is so important to the town. Without it I think the town would have degenerated considerably.

"We have got to support it because it is the same as a Crown Post Office where they will keep it open. Unless they get good business it will close down. I wish the business the best."