Malmesbury Denied Temporary Post Office Service Amid High Demand

A Wiltshire town has been informed that it will not receive a temporary Post Office service for nearly two months, with the reason cited as “too great” demand. Malmesbury’s Post Office, located within a Co-op branch, is scheduled for closure during the supermarket’s seven-week refurbishment period. Malmesbury’s mayor requested the Post Office provide a temporary service during this closure, but was told it would be unviable. The Post Office has advised customers to use nearby branches in Tetbury, Sherston, and Crudwell. Mayor and Councillor Phil Exton stated, “Without access to their local post office, many vulnerable residents will be unable to process the benefits and vouchers they need to survive especially during the winter period”. He added, “We’ve known about this for some time and asked the Post Office what provision it would make to support local residents who use this service regularly.” Councillor Exton further commented, “It’s taken several weeks to get a response and that response is, for us, totally unacceptable.” In response, a Post Office spokesperson indicated that they had “considered the use of a Mobile Post Office to provide a service in Malmesbury during the temporary closure period.” The spokesperson explained, “The Mobile Post Office is designed to provide services for a couple of hours per week from a van in small rural locations with low customer footfall.” They continued, “Unfortunately, a van would not be suitable for use in Malmesbury due to the higher customer footfall in the area that is likely to result in capacity issues on the van.” The Post Office had previously suggested utilizing branches in Tetbury, Sherston, and Crudwell. These branches are approximately five miles from Malmesbury and have infrequent public transport connections. Historically, the Post Office has either offered temporary services within the town or arranged complimentary transportation to neighboring branches. Malmesbury Council has also stated its engagement in discussions with the Co-op regarding this matter.