OWNERS of a former post office in the middle of a North Somerset village have been given permission to turn it into housing. Bleadon's post office and shop in Coronation Road closed its doors for the last time in December 2003 and has lain empty ever sinc

OWNERS of a former post office in the middle of a North Somerset village have been given permission to turn it into housing.Bleadon's post office and shop in Coronation Road closed its doors for the last time in December 2003 and has lain empty ever since.A new Post Office has since opened on the outskirts of the village in Purn Way and at the second time of asking the owners of the old site have been given planning permission by North Somerset Council to change it into a home.The authority's south area committee approved a planning application from Mr and Mrs Stokes at a meeting last week.In November last year the same committee refused the application because it feared 'village vitality' would suffer if the shop permanently closed.But councillors have now decided the new post office and shop serves residents well enough and the village does not need another shop.Mr and Mrs Stokes have tried to lease the site as a shop but found there was little interest in the venture.Speaking at the south area committee meeting, Councillor Ian Peddlesden said: "Parish councillors have discussed this and they are happy the premises has been marketed and are happy retail will not take place here after a couple of years of waiting."The new grocery shop and post office has opened and it provides quite a big provision for the village.