The Post Office says it’s received several expressions of interest in running a new central branch in Bath and is currently reviewing these.
The news came during a meeting with Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, held to discuss how soon a central branch could return to Bath after the company closes the existing Union Street branch on September 1.
The council called the meeting, which was also attended by senior council officers and cabinet members, after it became clear there will be a gap in the Post Office providing this important service for residents.
The Post Office updated the council that it has received several expressions of interest in running a new facility and is currently reviewing these. Depending on whether the applicants have postmaster accreditation and have access to suitable premises, this process takes an average of six months.
Councillor Kevin Guy said: “I made it very clear on behalf of the council that we will offer the Post Office any support we have available to help them reopen a Bath city centre branch. We will remain in very close contact whilst they go through their internal processes to see how we can support a new post office to return to the centre as soon as possible.”
Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath BID, was also present at the meeting. She said: “We would like to see a Post Office remaining as a key service to both businesses and residents. Locating services needed by the community in places which are well served by public transport is helpful and supports the ongoing success of town and city centres. We were pleased to meet with the Post Office team and will continue to support where we can.”
Let’s hope the new one opens before the old one closes!
What about the vacant (Georgian) Building next to the Central Bath P.O. Collection Site.
A condition should be that it’s on the ground floor, not hidden away upstairs.
How about relocating the Post Office to the now defunkt Fashion Museum, within the Assembly Rooms?!
The original and what was ideally located Post Office closed down, to make way for an oddly located new Fashion Museum, itself which closed down from being suitably located in the brilliant Assembly Rooms, and now Bath is faced with no post office at all !
Plain bonkers !