Town’s post office to reopen as new postmaster found

A well used Post Office is to re-open – after months of being closed. Milton Road Post Office shut in January when the McColls store where the branch was based closed.

Now a new independent postmaster has been appointed to run the branch at the same location. The new post office will open on April 12 at 1pm and open from 7am to 10pm seven days a week.

The news will be welcomed by residents who have been forced to travel into Weston or Worle to use neighbouring branches for the last three months. Scott Lacey, Post Office network provision lead, said: “We are delighted to be restoring Post Office services to the Milton Road area of Weston super Mare as we know how important a Post Office is to a community.”

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Although the Milton Road branch has re-opened, the one in Portishead remains closed. The Post Office – the only one in the town – closed this in January after McColls in the High Street, where it was based, shut its doors.

Portishead is the second biggest town in North Somerset with a population expected to reach 30,000 when all the developments are complete. People now face travelling miles to Pill or Clevedon to use a post office until a new operator can be found.

Post Office Limited began searching for a new franchisee to take over the post office , perhaps in an existing business, in January. The estimated fee payable for taking over the service is between £72,900 and £81,000 a year.

As yet, no one has come forward and shown an interest in taking on the role. The deadline for those wanting to apply to run a post office in Portishead is May. But even if someone does come forward, the process for setting up a new franchise can be lengthy, meaning the town could be without a facility for the majority of 2023.

There used to be three post offices in Portishead including one at the marina.

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