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HULLAVINGTON Post Office has been thrown a lifeline after closures were announced across Wiltshire and Berkshire this morning.

Although the post office itself will close Post Office Ltd has decided to introduce a partner service at the garage which will offer the most commonly used post office services.

These will include postal services, everyday banking and they will be available for an extended 61.5 hours a week.

The news met with a mixed reaction among villagers, in particular sub post master Howard Greenman, who will lose the service as well as Kington St Michael.

He said: "As district councillor as well I said right from the beginning that even if I was going to lose the post office I would fight to keep it for the village.

"People are very pleased that they are going to retain it and it is the best possible outcome for the village.

"Obviously I am disappointed to be losing it but it is a bitter sweet ending."

The post office will remain in its home in the village shop but ownership will now fall into the hands of Andrew Bain, and his wife Pauline and their business partners John and Marie Welch.

The move will bring a new lease of life to the shop and a refit will bring the post office to the front of the store with a new counter by May 25.

Mr Bain said: "We have had the village post office here for some year now and when they announced all the closures we decided to do our utmost to keep it.

"We have had it here since 1999 and we extended to fit it in but the post office was nothing to do with us until now, it was completely separate.

"The old post office area will now be completely taken away and we will have to make room for another counter.

"Basically the people selling the crisps will now be selling the stamps, we can't afford more staff.

"We can't get too excited as it is a lot to learn, we are apprehensive.

"It won't be a money earner it is about providing a service and hopefully keeping the village happy."

1:37pm Friday 22nd February 2008

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