Following a recent meeting with Parish Councillors, Richard Hall of Post Office Ltd has provided the following summary:
Since Audlem Post Office, 16 Stafford Street, Audlem, Crewe, CW3 0AP closed we have been trying to find a solution to restore Post Office services.
Our first focus was to try and secure access to the former Post Office site and install a temporary Subpostmaster to operate the branch. Unfortunately our efforts to make arrangements to operate from 16 Stafford Street have been unsuccessful.
In tandem to this we have advertised the business opportunity and approached potentially suitable existing retailers in Audlem to
discuss the Post Office opportunity. The opportunity has also been communicated at a head office level to our multiple partners.
Regrettably to date we have only received interest from one retailer in Audlem interested in operating the Post Office. A meeting was held with the interested party to discuss the possible siting the branch in their retail premises. Regrettably the premises are simply not big enough to accommodate the branch and no matter how we try to accommodate the Post Office counter and safe etc. there is insufficient space without compromising the retail side of their business.
In the absence of a suitable retailer in the village being willing or able to take on the Post Office we are now exploring options for an Outreach service. The Outreach service would be operated by the Postmaster of an existing Post Office who visits the village at set times each week. They would provide Post Office services using a portable kit from a suitable location i.e. a community building. We have approached a number of possible operators to gauge interest in operating the outreach service and have held a positive meeting with one interested Subpostmaster. They have asked for some additional information, which has been supplied, and they are now considering the opportunity before making a final decision on whether to proceed. If the decision is to proceed we can start discussions with the various contacts the Parish Council provided for community buildings in Audlem and seek to agree use of the premises for the Post Office.
Should the interested party decide they do wish to continue with the Outreach solution the proposal will be subject to a period of public consultation giving stakeholders and customers the opportunity to comment on the plans.
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