Negotiations are currently under way with “an interested party” in a quest to find a permanent postmaster for Ely, Spotted in Ely can reveal.
A Post Office spokesperson said today: “We are looking for a long-term permanent solution for Ely and we are in discussion with an interested party.”
Meanwhile the branch at Central Hall, Market Street, continues to be run by a temporary postmaster, with reduced services.
Back in January, the Costcutter shop that hosts Ely’s only Post Office mysteriously shut for the best part of a week, but since then, the shop has been open as usual.
In July 2016 Spotted in Ely broke the story that the Post Office was advertising for a retailer to take over the running of its Ely branch, after the previous postmaster lost his contract in May, due to “a private contractual matter”.
A new postmaster has still not been found, despite estimated fees in the area ranging between £99,300 to £110,800 per year, and since last year, the branch has been operating a reduced service, from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday, and has often been chronically short staffed.
The Market Street Post Office first opened its doors in December 2014, offering extended hours and additional services.
Before that had been situated in a portable building in Paradise car park for over a year, until it could be found a permanent home.
