A TEMPORARY Post Office opened in Minehead on Tuesday (August 25) while plans continue to be made for a permanent replacement later in the year.

The town has been without a Post Office since the closure in early June of the branch inside the Co-op supermarket, in The Avenue.

Now, an interim branch has been opened under the leadership of experienced postmaster Richard Brown in the sea front Queens Hall retail shop, in Warren Road.

Post Office retail change lead Giles Hewson said: “We know how important a Post Office is to the residents, businesses, and tourists in Minehead.

“We are delighted that this temporary service will re-open during the busy summer period for the town.

“We have been working hard with experienced postmaster Richard Brown to restore Post Office services as soon as possible.

The Post Office and Co-op store in Minehead are expected to close this year for a redevelopment of the site.
The Post Office and Co-op store in Minehead both closed earlier this year. ( Tindle News)

“We had some telecommunications issues with the premises that have now been overcome.”

Mr Hewson said the Queens Hall facility would offer a similar range of Post Office products and services as had previously been available, including everyday postal services and banking services.

The Queens Hall branch opening hours are 9 am to 5 pm on Monday to Saturday, which means the town has 48 hours of Post Office service per week for the convenience of customers.

Mr Hewson emphasised that the Queens Hall was a temporary measure while the Post Office worked toward a permanent solution.

He said: “Plans are being finalised for a permanent Post Office later this year.”

Nationally, the Post Office has more than 11,500 branches, representing the largest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.

Mr Hewson said 97 per cent of Post Office branches were run with retail partners on an agency or franchise basis.