THE search was on this week for a new home for Minehead’s main post office - and the town’s traders are being urged to suggest possible sites or even take on the business themselves.

Currently, the post office operates from the Co-op’s supermarket in The Avenue. But it was given notice to quit at the end of November ahead of plans by the Co-operative Group to demolish the 1980s building and redevelop the site with a mix of retirement homes and a smaller convenience store.

Post Office officials are now on the hunt for new premises but this week local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said the help of local traders could be invaluable in finding a suitable location.

"They are the people who have the most knowledge of potentially suitable premises and what opportunities may be in the offing in terms of empty shops," he said.

"It is vital that we retain a main post office in or relatively close to the town centre because the only alternative is the Alcombe post office, which only has two serving positions, each coping with retail shop sales as well as conducting post office business.

"That is just about satisfactory at the moment but clearly it could not handle a major increase in footfall, quite apart from the fact that it is hardly in a convenient location for most people in Minehead.

"I would like to think we could find a new site for the post office within a matter of weeks so that the Post Office has plenty of time to make all the arrangements for a smooth transition of the business when the time comes."

This week BID chairman Graham Sizer gave his support to the scheme, saying: "Minehead needs a main post office, there is no doubt."

He added: "It may be a big ask for someone to consider taking it on in one of our empty shops and all the overheads that go with that.

"But if any business operator has a little spare space and wants to dramatically increase its footfall, I’d encourage him or her to seriously consider the idea. And if BID or the Chamber of Commerce can help, we will." 

Anyone interested in either running the post office or providing a home for it can visit The Avenue Post Office branch advert - Run a Post Office.

A Post office spokesman said: "We’re looking for a successful retailer to incorporate a Post Office Local into their existing or proposed business. Applications should be in by June 20 and estimated fees are in the range of £51,300-£57,000 per annum."