Letter to our MP from the Post Office

AudlemOnline has received this copy of the response from Richard Hall (Public Affairs Manager, Post Office) to the letter sent by our MP, Antoinette Sandbach, about the Post Office situation in Audlem.

Dear Ms Sandbach, further to your communication regarding the Post Office in Audlem. We continue to seek a solution that will enable us to restore Post Office services in Audlem.

My colleague held a meeting with the owners of The Eleventh Hour Gift Shop in Audlem on Saturday 12 November to discuss the possibility of siting a Post Office within their retail store. Regrettably the premises are simply not big enough to accommodate the branch. Unfortunately 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.

Our Contracts Manager has been trying to contact the trustees of the former Post Office site to request access to the building, and discuss the possibility of installing a temporary Postmaster, but our communications continue to be ignored.

He has once again contacted the trustees this week and I will let you know if we receive a response.

We have also approached the Co-op again, through our multiples team who manage the relationship with this retailer, but they still do not wish to register interest in the Post Office. We have received no other expressions of interest in the Post Office opportunity from other retailers in Audlem.

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. This is not our preferred option as the capacity available will not meet the previous demands for the branch but will be available to those customers who have difficulty accessing Post Office services elsewhere.

The Outreach service would be operated by the Postmaster of an existing Post Office who visits the village at set times each week and provides Post Office services using a portable kit from a suitable location e.g. a community building.

This option is dependent on us finding a Postmaster willing to operate the service.

We are approaching potential operators of an Outreach in Audlem and discussing how we can provide services in the village alongside their existing commitments. I have a list of potential buildings in Audlem supplied by the Parish Council and once we have a clearer plan of how the service may operate we will contact them to discuss the availability and terms for the use of the buildings.

I will update you on the progress of our discussions to establish an Outreach service as soon as I have significant news.

Regards

Richard Hall

Public Affairs Manager

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