Plans to revamp Portland's postal service have stalled

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A PLAN to ensure Portland residents keep a post office on their doorstep has stalled.

Underhill faced being left without a service after postmistress Kay Schofield decided to retire after nine years because of the current financial nightmare at her Fortuneswell Road business.

Mrs Schofield has vowed to close the service in the new year but is yet to give a three-month notice of closure after her initial plans to retire at the end of this month were scrapped.

Helen Dolby has been forced to halt plans to open a replacement post office local in Castletown Stores until a closure date of the Fortuneswell business is decided.

Mrs Schofield blamed the closure on falling customer numbers since a Tesco shop opened on the island.

She said: “It’s getting quieter and quieter since Tesco opened, although they don’t have a post office, people go up there and then shop in Easton.

“I’ve tried to sell the business before but no one has shown much interest and financially it’s become a nightmare so I’ve no choice really but to sell.

“I was looking to close at the end of September so this is only a temporary reprieve until some time after Christmas.

“We heard the Fortuneswell post office was planning on closing down and we felt Underhill desperately needed a post office to replace it.

“I’ve spoken to residents and lots of businesses around here and there is most definitely a need down here again but the post office have clearly said that until the post office in Fortuneswell closes down we won’t have one here.”

Post Office Ltd said they are unable to comment on the Fortuneswell post office situation until an official notice of closure for the business has been submitted.

A Post Office Ltd spokesman said: “There are a couple of options when a post office closes: the sub-post master can sell the business on but if they decide they want to retire or resign then the post office will work to find a solution to restore the service to the area as soon as possible.

“We don’t ordinarily open a post office in an area where there isn’t one but we try to maintain the network we have got if there is an existing post office.”