Bathampton Sub-Post Office is to close for good tomorrow, August 19th, following a decision by the owner of the shop to close down. The preferred option of the Post Office is to relocate it to new premises but the short timescale means that this will not be possible. The shop will close completely on 24th August. No public consultation has been carried out because this is not a planned Post Office closure.
The Poste Restante service at Bathampton Post Office is an essential service for boaters and is used by many. It is not clear whether this service will continue to be available if and when the Post Office re-opens. If you need a postal address, Friends, Families and Travellers have offered the use of their address to liveaboard boaters. You can contact them at Friends, Families and Travellers, Community Base, 113 Queens Rd, Brighton BN1 3XG, tel 01273 234777, email fft@gypsy-traveller.org.uk
Last year, the planned relocation of Bradford on Avon Post Office threatened the future of the Poste Restante service there, but complaints in response to a consultation and and intervention by local MP Duncan Hames resulted in the Poste Restante service being continued in the new location.
See also
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/need-an-address/
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/save-bradford-on-avon-post-office/
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/poste-restante-service-saved-in-bradford-on-avon/
Tags: Duncan Hames, Friends Families and Travellers, liveaboards, Post Office, postal address, Poste Restante