PLANS have been launched to make sure Coalpit Heath residents continue to have a post office following the scheduled closure next month.


The post office in the town, on Church Lane, currently run by Steve and Sarah Davis, has been put up for sale, and previously sparked fears that the service would be lost altogether.


Edwina Pennell, who runs the NISA store in nearby Woodend Road, has told Post Office Limited that she would be willing to invest in her premises to accommodate a post office counter service in order to make sure that residents continue to be able to access their pensions, benefits and post office services.


A six-week consultation was launched on Friday, February 13 by Post Office limited to see if the relocation will go ahead.


Mrs Pennell said: “A post office is a vital community service and I know that many local people will want to continue to be able to use a local post office branch.


“I hope that local residents will respond to the consultation and that we will be able to move on to the next step of making sure that a new service is up and running as soon as possible.”


MP for Thornbury and Yate Steve Webb said: "We are grateful to Steve and Sarah Davis for their years of providing local post office services, and wish them well for the future.


“I am delighted that Edwina Pennell has indicated she is willing to make room in her shop for a post office and I hope that the interruption in service can be kept as short as possible."


Leighton Barratt, field change advisor at Post Office Limited, said: "Coalpit Heath branch will be closing temporarily on 23 March because of the resignation of the postmaster and withdrawal of premises for post office use.


"We’ve therefore been working locally to find a new location so that we can maintain access to post office services in this part of Coalpit Heath.


"I am pleased to tell you that, subject to consultation and the successful appointment of the new operator, we are proposing to move the branch to the new premises.


"The new premises will undergo a full refurbishment to incorporate a bright new post office alongside a modern convenience store."


The proposed new location would also involve an extra 60 hours and 30 minutes a week of opening and a new-style local branch where post office products and services will be provided from an open-plan till at the shop counter.


Julia Marwood, regional network manager, said: “We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Coalpit Heath and we are confident this new modern branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.”


To comment on the relocation email comments@postoffice.co.uk.