Cromhall post office redevelopment back on track a year behind schedule

The initial public consultation on the project led by Merlin Housing Society was held in the summer of 2012.

The social landlord was given the green light by South Gloucestershire Council bosses to erect two buildings to house a permanent and more suitable post office and village shop, which currently operate from a portacabin, along with three affordable homes.

Work was due to get underway in the autumn. Yet it was not until January this year that full details of the plans were presented to the council's adults and housing committee with a provisional date of 'early 2013'.

The scheme was finally set in motion in August.

The current post office and shop will shut on Friday, September 20 and move into another portacabin outside Cromhall Chapel. It will start running again as normal on Thursday 26.

Construction is expected to last six months, after which the award-winning post office and community-run shop will relocate back to Townwell and into their new permanent premises.

Cllr Matthew Riddle (Con, Severn), who helped set the project in motion said he was delighted to see it finally get off the ground.

"Having been the executive member who made the decision to invest council resources in this Cromhall scheme, I have been disappointed with the slow progress that has been made.

"Many villages have lost their rural post offices so this will come as a welcome boost for the Cromhall community that their local post office and shop is to be given the long-term security of a permanent new home."

He added: "There is enormous demand for affordable housing for local people living in our rural areas so I am very pleased that this scheme appears to be getting off the ground finally after such a frustrating delay."

South Gloucestershire Council has pledged £100,000 towards the post office’s construction costs.

The new homes will include a one-bedroom flat above the post office and two energy-efficient two-bedroom houses.