Bid to find new home for post office

A HUNT for a new postmaster or mistress has been launched in Portishead – with a package on offer of £80,000.

Post Office Limited is advertising for a new franchise to run a main post office in the town following news that McColl’s in High Street is to close.

It is one of 132 McColl’s that retail giant Morrisons announced earlier this year it was to shut. It bought them earlier this year in a rescue deal.

The High Street McColl’s houses the town’s post office – the only one in the town.

It is understood the post office will remain open until the new year.

The Post Office says it is looking for a retailer to incorporate a main post office into their business. The estimated fee payable for taking over the service is between £72,900 and £81,000 a year. The closing date is next May.

The advert comes at the same time as North Somerset Council leader Councillor Steve Bridger is to hold crunch talks with Post Office bosses to ensure a service remains in the town.

He said: “I cannot countenance a town the size of Portishead being left without an accessible post office counter service.”

A Post Office spokesman said they would undertake an assessment of the area and would work closely with nearby postmasters to support them with the likely increase in footfall. They would “review requirements for the local community”.