Post Office in Portchester could return thanks to opening of new store replacing McColl's
A THREATENED Post Office branch could remain in Portchester shopping precinct thanks to a new convenience store.
McColl’s in West Street, which had housed the Post Office branch, announced at the start of the year that it planned to close in July, but pushed back its closing date to Friday, August 21.
The shopping precinct also lost its Co-op earlier this year, causing concerns the area could become a ‘ghost town’.
Now a new convenience store – which the owners are hoping to re-brand as a Nisa franchise – has opened replacing the McColl’s.
Retailer Avtar Sahota, whose family have run convenience stores across the area for more than three decades, is working for the new store to accommodate a Post Office branch.
Mr Sahota said: ‘The Post Office won’t be a short process to set up – it can be quite onerous.
‘But we are working on it – we’re committed to the area.
‘The store is currently unbranded, but we are open and selling items like groceries, alcohol, cigarettes, and perishables.’
A Post Office spokesperson added: ‘We are now working with the landlord of the premises on a new plan to restore Post Office service as soon as possible.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of Portchester Post Office.
‘In the interim the alternative branches include Wicor and White Hart Lane.’
A Post Office is still ‘desperately’ needed, according to Fareham Borough Councillor Roger Price.
Cllr Price said: ‘I totally and utterly supported it staying there – we desperately need a Post Office.
‘We have just done a survey around Portchester and one of the things that came across loud and clear is that we need the service.’
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The Post Office, which has more than 11,500 branches nationwide, sees 97 per cent of its branches run in shops.
The opening hours for the new store are 6am to 7pm from Monday to Sunday.