Post office result (From Stroud News and Journal)

Post office result

PAGANHILL residents were celebrating this week after a first class result in the battle to save their post office.

Last year supermarket giant Tesco warned that it was not prepared to run a post office counter at the new Express store when it converts the old One Stop shop in Stratford Road although it promised to do everything it could to help in its relocation.

A meeting was held to discuss the possible relocation of the counter to the Maypole Hall Community Centre next door.

A representatives from all interested parties took part and everyone endorsed moving the post office to the site.

"The meeting was overwhelmingly positive and everybody seems committed to working towards the same aim - getting something nailed down," said a spokesman after the meeting.

Simon Smith, retail line manager, Post Office Ltd told the SNJ on Monday: 'We are looking to provide a permanent, sustainable solution in Paganhill.

"All those who attended the meeting want to see a post office counter in the area for many years to come. "We are therefore hopeful that plans discussed at the meeting will achieve that."

But Stroud MP David Drew sounded a note of caution: "It's still not confirmed so it's no good saying it's all sorted," he said.

"But it could be a very good community amenity provided the money is invested in the whole complex and not just the hall itself."

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Neil Carmichael said: "After months of campaigning, this is a welcome step in the right direction. This community demonstrated powerfully that it wanted a local Post Office and this news is certainly positive.

Tesco has promised the bulk of the money and the district council is expected to help fund external lighting and wheelchair access.

The aim is to agree proposals in principle and to update the community on developments by the end of March.