Yate Post Office to remain in town as local franchise

Yate Post Office will remain open and offer the same services, at least until the end of the current financial year.

A campaign to save the Yate Post Office was launched by local MP Claire Young when the Post Office announced last year it was one of 115 at risk of closure.

The Post Office said it is converting all of its remaining directly managed "Crown Post Offices" to franchisees, with Yate being one of those affected.

It has now confirmed it will remain at its current premises and be operated by ZCO - a company based in Bolton that operates 21 Post Offices across the UK, as well as four banking hubs.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition organised by Ms Young who said at the time that she would “fight hard to keep the service in Yate Shopping Centre”.

A decision has yet to be made about the long-term location of the branch, which could look to move to a different site in the town centre from April next year.

Responding to the news, Claire Young MP said:

“This is a big win for Yate, with confirmation that a new franchise partner has been found and agreed to keep the premises open at its current home until at least next year.

“My focus is now working with ZCO to keep the branch as the vibrant community hub that so many rely upon. This includes ensuring no existing services are quietly stripped out.

“I will also be pushing to ensure that they commit to maintaining it in the shopping centre beyond next year, so it can remain at the heart of the town.”