CODFORD is to lose a shop but retain its Post Office if plans for its relocation are accepted.

Postmaster Jim Attenburrow updated councillors on the latest developments at the July Codford Parish Council meeting,

He and postmistress Caroline Skyrme have given three months notice to the main Post Office, and the present shop has been sold as a private house.

However, Brendan Smith of New Road Service Station has applied to take on the Post Office business from September 2000.

Mr Attenburrow explained that, while the business was thriving, the revenue lost due to various changes in legislation could not be replaced.

He said despite the addition of personal banking and the fact that Codford was the second best performing Post Office in the area, the total profit for the last month brought in by the banking service was just £19.

It was felt that by relocating to an already thriving business with longer opening hours, the future of a Post Office in Codford would be secured.

Mr Smith attended the meeting and said he was able to offer a new service for the villages of Codford, Stockton and Chitterne.

Codford Parish Council expressed its total support for the project, saying that retaining a village Post Office in the present difficult climate for small businesses is a priority in the best interests of the whole area.