Plans, although still in their very early stages, are afoot for Wellington to have a post office again, writes Barry Knott.

The town has been without a post office since the One Stop store in High Street, which had housed it, closed nearly 18 months ago. The nearest now is at Rockwell Green.

Wellington Town Council is looking to buy the vacant community office beside its main building in Fore Street, which could be the venue for a post office.

It is waiting for the owners, Somerset West and Taunton Council, to value the property and, in the meantime, the town council will be seeking an independent valuation. The district council has a duty to ratepayers to sell it at market value.

Town councillor John Thorne told the WWN: “I think we are 99 per cent certain of buying it and 85 to 90 per cent certain of putting a post office in there if it proves big enough.

“The town has waited far too long for the post office to be replaced and while the one at Rockwell Green has been doing a sterling job in the circumstances, it is not able to cope with the demand.

“A majority of councillors recognise Wellington needs a town centre post office and we have therefore looked at a whole range of options, and the district council’s disused community office seems to best fit what we need.”

The council has about £350,000 uncommitted cash reserves, some of which could be used to help buy the building, while it could take out a long-term public loan with money being cheap to borrow at the moment. Other options also exist.

The council has also been considering having another pop-up shop in town following the success of the one across the road from its main offices.

The post office at Rockwell Green is small and customers often have to queue outside in all weathers. Car parking is also limited.