Save Our Post Office: Update

The MoS Save Our Post Office group (SOPOg) has now met twice to discuss the future of one of the most essential services in our village. The situation in brief is as follows:

1. The existing Post Office will likely close when the Post Mistress sells her premises. There is no guarantee that a new Post Office will be approved by the PO authority for the existing building.

2. The SOPOg members have contacted the PO authority offices and have visited retail outlets in MoS that they feel could possibly be interested in having a Post Office in their premises. 

3. The PO authority has invited ‘Expressions of Interest’ from business places in MoS on their website. This invitation will close at the end of July when the selection process will begin. 

4. The PO authority offers signage, alarm system, safes, open plan service desk and full training for the successful applicant and staff.

5. We understand that at least two retailers have expressed interest with the PO authority and are waiting for the opportunity to put forward a business plan when the PO asks for one.

6. Any new PO operation will be on commission instead of salaried and therefore suits a retailer who is not looking for any significant income from the PO services but will benefit from the extra footfall that will be drawn through his or her retail premises.

7. The PO authority will provide a temporary PO service in a suitable village community facility (library, church hall, community centre etc.) if the length of process of approval, training and opening a full new PO business leaves the village without service.

8. If you have an interest in finding out more about running a Post Office in Milford on Sea then go to www.postoffice.co.uk and at the bottom of the page click under the heading Post Office Corporate, click Business Opportunities,then Latest Business Opportunities.

You can then explore the information and instructions in the Menu down the left hand side of the page. Register an Expression of Interest leaving email and other details with the PO authority and they will contact you.

The SOPO group will be happy to assist in any way we can with information or help in the process of establishing a new PO operation in our village. Just contact Dick Coe at: rwtcoe@gmail.com.