RESIDENTS have raised concerns about the upcoming closure of Frome’s main post office, located in the town centre.
Its closure, which is scheduled for June, will leave Frome with two outlying Post Office branches – Portway and Rodden Road – which has sparked fears that queues at the remaining branches, already described as “long”, will become “horrendous”.
However, Frome Town Council has said that it is doing “everything in its power” to retain the service, and is working with both the Post Office and the building’s landlords to save the “important part of the town centre’s offer” from permanent closure.
One resident and frequent post office customer, told Frome Times, “I personally use the post office in the precinct 2-3 times a week and I know of many local makers and local shops who offer online services who use the same post office as the staff are the most helpful (and fastest working) of the three post offices.
“At the last census, Frome had a population of 26,000 and it has grown dramatically since then and we (using more and more postal or delivery services) will be expected to use and drive to the already very busy two remaining post offices.”
Current operators of the post office, Radstock Co-operative Society, announced in late-February that both its food store and the post office, located in the Westway Centre, will be closing in June. According to reports, the lease was not renewed as overheads on the shop were “too high”.
The vacancy has been advertised by the Post Office with a closing date of 25th August.
About their efforts to retain the town centre’s post office service, economic development & regeneration manager for the town council, Peter Wheelhouse said, “We have been working closely with the Post Office and Maybrook Properties, landlord of the current post office premises, to try to ensure that this important amenity remains in the town centre.
“The latest is that there have been some positive conversations between the landlord and the Post Office that we have helped to broker.
“Our understanding is that Maybrook are doing everything they can to ensure that a post office operation can continue in the Westway.”
A Post Office spokesperson added, “The operator for Frome Post Office has made the difficult decision to close the store and post office in June. We know how important a post office is to a community and the vacancy is advertised on www.runapostoffice.co.uk”
