A FREE temporary bus service started operating on Monday to help customers of Mitcheldean Post Office get to Drybrook Post Office instead.

The post office, which closed last Thursday, is moving to the Co-op in the High Street and opening on January 9 – despite some people expressing concerns about space and manoeuverability during a public consultation. Although most supported the move as it would allow the post office to remain in a central location.

In the meantime, residents can catch a bus to Drybrook on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am, 10am, 11am and 12pm from Mitcheldean Post Office. A return service will leave Drybrook Post Office at 9.45am, 10.45am, 11.45am and 12.45pm.

Mark Harper MP welcomed the post office's decision to provide a free bus service for Mitcheldean residents. He said: "A number of residents have contacted me expressing concern that, as we head towards a busy time of year, the post office had not properly considered the impact on Mitcheldean residents that a break in service would have, especially for those people who are unable to travel by car on their own. 

"As a result, I have worked closely with the post office to ensure that a temporary solution is found. To that end, I am pleased that the post office will be providing a free temporary bus service that will transport residents to and from Drybrook Post Office, three days a week."

The bus will run until Wednesday, January 8 excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day. When Mitcheldean Post Office re-opens it will be a new 'local' style open-plan branch, with significantly longer opening hours for customers.

Post Office regional network manager south, Julia Marwood, added: "We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Mitcheldean and we are very sorry about the inconvenience caused at this busy time of year. This temporary loss of services is beyond our control. The free bus service will help customers to reach Drybrook Post Office.

"We are confident that this new modern post office service, when it opens in early January, in modern new premises will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future. The modernisation is part of a major investment programme to convert the post office network to new-style branches. This investment, the largest in the history of the post office, makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes."