the ‘temporary’ closure of the Post Office in High Street, Wellington, last year has now become permanent as no-one has come forward to take on the franchise.

The Post Office closed last August following the closure of the One Stop store, leaving the nearest post office to Wellington at Rockwell Green.

Post Office change manager Matthew Wall, in a statement to Somerset West and Taunton councillors, said: “We have been exploring our options for restoring a Post Office service to our customers in the area.

“The vacancy in Wellington has been advertised on our website and a member of the field team has also personally visited the area.

“So far we have received no interest or formal applications for the position.

“Unfortunately, we have therefore been unable to identify a suitable solution and I’m writing to you and other local representatives to advise you that as there have been no suitable opportunities to re-establish a service, this branch will remain closed.

“We would, of course, consider any appropriate options if there are any significant changes in the area in the future.

“However due to the length of time the branch has been closed, we would need to satisfy ourselves that any new opportunity would be sustainable for both the Post Office and the operator.”

Somerset county and Wellington town councillor John Thorne said yesterday: “I am shocked and disappointed by this news.

“We know that there has been at least one very solid applicant who, for a number of reasons, has been discouraged by the Post Office from proceeding. If the Post Office was seriously concerned to serve the community of Wellington then I would have expected them to bend over backwards to have helped the retailer who wanted to take over. But they did not.

“I will be taking this up, as I am sure my colleagues on the town council will also, with our MP Rebecca Pow and once again making the point that the Post Office is owned via the Government by the people of Wellington and every other community in the country.

“Therefore, there should be an obligation on the Post Office to directly manage a service when gaps occur until a replacement can be provided, even if that means a change in the law to force them to do so.

“I will also ask for this to be on the agenda for the town council’s October meeting.”