THE LONG running quest to find a new, permanent home for Cowes Post Office looks likely to be on the verge of being solved.


Post Office bosses have announced that a new outlet will be situated in the Southern Co-Operative building in Mill Hill Road from May 19.

The previous permanent post office was located in the former Southern Co-Operative store in Terminus Road in the town centre but shut its doors when the shop was sold to Marks and Spencer.

Since December 2015, the post office has operated from a temporary portable building at Cowes Yacht Haven but under the proposals, that building will close on Tuesday, April 25.

During the temporary closure before the new store opens, alternative post offices include the East Cowes Post Office in Well Road, the Pallance Road office in Cowes and Newport Post Office at the Co-op in Pyle Street.

The new branch will be a modern, main-style branch with post office services delivered from three counters, two full-screen and a post office service point alongside retail tills.

The new office will be open an extra 68 hours a week including all-day Sunday. The branch will also open significantly earlier and close much later.

The two main counters will open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm. The service point will be open offering selected services from Monday to Saturday at 6am to 9am and 5.30pm to 11pm and Sunday, 6am to 11pm.

Suzanne Richardson, the Post Office’s regional network manager, said: "We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.

"We are confident that this vibrant new-style post office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.

"This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the post office and will secure services for the future."

A six week consultation has now been launched about the proposals. Anyone wishing to comment can contact via Freepost YOUR Comments to Post Office Ltd, by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the customer helpline on 03457 22 33 44 or textphone 03457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views online through the quick and easy questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk with a branch sort code 195925.