WELLINGTON looks almost certain to be without a post office in just over six weeks’ time.

The WWN has learnt that the existing Post Office in the town centre at the One Stop shop will close on August 10 with the store itself closing on August 24.

But with less than two months to go until the town loses these facilities – time to find an alternative retailer to host the post office appears to be running out.

Cllr Keith Wheatley, who represents Wellington East at the Somerset West and Taunton Council, has been liaising with the Post Office and possible host businesses who might take over from September but says the outlook is gloomy.

“The Post Office is certain that taking on an empty shop and making it a sole business is a financial model that just doesn’t work any more,” he said.

Mr Wheatley, who has been working with Deputy Mayor Cllr Mark Lithgow in trying to find a solution, added: “The margins are too small and the overheads too high. I’ve had discussions with W H Smith and H T Perry & Son about the possibilities of integrating the town Post Office into their shops but both firms have clear reasons why it wouldn’t be possible for them.”

It seems that an alternative host retailer would need large premises and a high customer footfall to be viable.

Fern Perry, manager of the successful Fore Street ironmongers, was asked to consider taking on the Post Office but has had to reluctantly say ‘no’ to the idea. “I’d like to say yes but financially we can’t even consider it,” said Ms Perry.

“We’d have to pay 50 per cent of the cost of a very expensive fit-out of the shop next door and then employ a minimum of two extra staff, who’d need specialised training. The turnover and profit level that the Post Office was forecasting just couldn’t cover it.

“It’s a shame because it would be great to help keep the Post Office going and pull more people up to this end of town,” she added.

Ian Sanders, group commercial development director for W H Smith, added: “We have reviewed the Wellington branch W HSmith store layout and its existing store trading intensity. Unfortunately this is a particularly small store that also has a well above average sales per square foot.

“As such on this occasion it would not be commercially viable to reduce the W H Smith selling space and indeed the store simply wouldn’t be able to cope with the additional footfall.

“I only wish the store had been larger and I could have given you a more positive response to try and help safeguard the future of the Post Office for this community.”

Cllr Andrew Govier has told the WWN he is also looking at potential premises which could take on the Post Office.

“We are getting to that desperate stage now with time running out but it’s all about finding a building which is appropriate to house a Post Office,” he said.

“It would be detrimental to the town centre if we lost the Post Office. The nearest one is down the road at Rockwell Green, but that would cause problems for people without transport and the elderly and young mums with prams and pushchairs.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “The postmaster for Wellington Post Office has resigned and the Post Office and One Stop store are currently due to close in mid-August.

“We are committed to providing a Post Office in the area and we are looking at ways to provide Post Office services.

“Any retailer interested in incorporating a Post Office in their premises should email [email protected] or 0333 345 5560 and then select option 2.”