A Post Office in a Derbyshire village looks set to move to a new premises after the current postmaster resigned. The Codnor branch has been based at Holmfield Chemist, on High Street, for the past four years.
But Post Office services will no longer be available within the pharmacy from Friday, August 26 onwards. The Royal Mail and banking service provider is therefore looking for a new postmaster to take on the role.
Promisingly, Nigel Mills, the MP for Amber Valley, has confirmed there has been some immediate interest from the owner of the Select and Save off-licence shop, located just a few minutes walk away on Jessop Street. In a statement posted on his social media channels yesterday, Wednesday, August 3, Mr Mills said: “The Codnor Post Office was set to temporarily close from August 25, following the resignation of the postmaster.
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“However, I am pleased to update residents that the off-licence outlet on Jessop Street has applied to take over the service. The setup of the branch on Jessop Street should take a number of weeks, however, there is now a good possibility that there will be a seamless changeover of services. This is excellent news, as the closure of this branch would undoubtedly have had an impact on the local community.”
A notice has been posted on the Codnor Parish Council website regarding the upcoming closure of the Post Office within Holmfield Chemist. Part of it reads: “Sadly, the Post Office in Holmfield Chemists will soon be closing and moving elsewhere. Like many other small post offices, it has proved impossible to make the business a commercial success.
“The parish council would like to thank Umesh, the pharmacist and owner of the chemist, and his staff, for all their efforts in the last four years. They have provided a vital service to the village.
“We hope that another local business will wish to add the Post Office to their premises as we believe that it is vital that post office services be maintained in the village.”
Confirming the closure of the branch at Holmfield Chemist and its intention to launch a new service elsewhere, a Post Office spokesperson said: “The Postmaster for Codnor has resigned and the premises are being withdrawn for Post Office use on Thursday, August 25 at 5.30pm.
“The vacancy is advertised on www.runapostoffice.co.uk. We are working hard to restore services in the area as soon as possible. In the interim alternative branches include Loscoe and Ripley.”
Another Post Office branch in the Amber Valley area of the county closed late last month. The branch in Holbrook, near Belper, used to be managed by a community group of volunteers that also oversees the village’s pub and cafe, but shut on July 22.
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