Malmesbury Town Council has come up with a possible solution to provide a temporary Post Office to support its residents when their normal Post Office shuts down for two months.
The Post Office in Malmesbury is well used by residents and is situated in the Co-op in the town’s High Street. However the supermarket is due to close on 18th January for extensive refurbishment – and the Post Office is now closed. This project is expected to last for around two months, hopefully re-opening on Friday 7th March 2025.
Recently the Post Office told councillors, they would not provide a temporary mobile service to the town as it might be ‘too busy’. Now Malmesbury Town Council has offered a solution to support its residents.
Mayor Cllr Phil Exton said: “We’ve come up with a suggestion which we hope will offer a solution. We have offered a room within the town hall where the Post Office staff can open for four hours a day, five days a week from 10am to 2pm during the period of closure as we recognise this is a vital resource for many who live in and around the town.
“We do realise there will be a ‘gap’ between the Post Office closing today and the new provision being offered however we hope to sort this situation out as soon as possible.”
The council has made the offer as councillors felt that the Post Office’s suggestion that residents use alternative premises in Crudwell, Tetbury or Sherston – all several miles away – was not practical. With no easy public transport links, these facilities require customers to have a car.
“We’re negotiating how this can work in practice at the moment,” Cllr Exton said. “We are now discussing with the Post Office around security arrangements. Things are looking hopeful though.”
The Post Office and the Co-Op have been supportive of this offer by Malmesbury Town Council and final details of how comprehensive this support can be are being ironed out. Local MP Dr Roz Savage has also intervened to help the town council come up with a solution until the High Street Post Office can open again in the Spring.
She commented: “I welcome the provision of this service at Malmesbury Town Hall while the Post Office branch is temporarily closed. I am pleased to have contributed to delivering this outcome. Meanwhile I will continue to press the Post Office for their service to be as close to normal as possible. It is also heart warming to see the Malmesbury community rallying round to help each other at this time.”
The Town Council believes the Post Office will be operating in the town hall on Wednesday 29th January 2025.
