A POST office is to reopen in Weston town centre just nine months after one yards away was closed.

A new branch will be opened within the High Street Spar store later this year, to replace the one which shut when McColls in The Boulevard closed down last November.

Julia Marwood, the Post Office’s regional manager said: “We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Weston and we are confident that this new modern service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

When McColls closed last year, the Post Office appealed unsuccessfully for other business to come forward, if they could accommodate a new branch.

Weston MP John Penrose has campaigned for a post office to return ever since. He has previously attended Westminster briefings and has called on the Post Office to keep operating as many branches as possible. Mr Penrose said this week’s announcement was good for the whole town.

He said: “The Post Office has been promising me it would reopen this branch for some time, so it’s good to see it has been good to its word and the deal is going ahead.

“It is even promising the new branch will have longer opening hours too. There’s a six-week consultation for local residents to make their views known.”

Anyone interesting in taking part can submit their opinions at www.postofficeviews.co.uk, quoting branch number 39051199.

The Royal Mail delivery office was officially reopened this week too by Mr Penrose.

The Warne Road facility has a new customer service IT point designed to reduce customer’s waiting times.