Post office which closed suddenly last month could be turned into flats

Residents were left shocked after discovering the town's main post office in Church Street was to shut in early April.

And now representatives from the company say the branch is likely to stay closed for good, with plans to transform the building into properties and a small retail unit instead.

A spokesperson for the Post Office said: “We had plans to re-open Christchurch Post Office with a temporary postmaster operating the branch at the same location.

"This would have meant that we could have quickly restored the post office as all the necessary equipment was there.

"However, the landlord of the shop has now decided that the premises will no longer be available for post office use and has plans for the building to become flats and a small retail unit.

“We will now have to re-think plans to restore post office services to Christchurch.

"We are committed to providing post office services in this area of Christchurch.”

But, estate agents Ellis and Partners who marketing the branch say they have received "no acceptable offers" from the Post Office.

Director John Shannessy, said: "In the six weeks since the Post Office closed for business the landlord has received no acceptable offers from the Post Office.

"So far, the Post Office have only offered a short term letting of three months to give them the opportunity to reopen the business but with no guarantees of a long term letting.

"The landlords have decided to commence marketing of the shop to find a new tenant as there appears to be no immediate likelihood of an acceptable offer by the Post Office."

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Noel Adams, director of Christchurch Life Ltd, took over running the post office in February 2014 from the former postmaster.

However, the decision was taken to liquidate the company, as it was no longer deemed to be financially viable.

The issue was raised at a meeting of Christchurch Citizens Association recently, with residents concerned about the proximity of a main branch post office, should Christchurch's not reopen.

The nearest main branches would be Highcliffe or Tuckton.