Short delivery for Post Office (From Bicester Advertiser)

Short delivery for Post Office

3:00pm Saturday 19th January 2013 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197

BICESTER’S post office has a new home after moving a few doors along Sheep Street.

The post office and newsagent Martin McColl has relocated to the smaller former Cherry’s furniture unit, which closed in December 2011.

Builders have been working to fit out the former furniture store ready for the big move.

The Cherry family decided to retire and closed its furniture shop after almost 60 years’ trading in Sheep Street.

A Post Office spokesman said: “The lease on the current premises ended and an opportunity arose for our operator, Martin McColl, to move the store and Post Office branch to new premises located close by.”

Dave Thomas, operations director at Martin McColl, said: “The shop and Post office will be re-locating slightly further along Sheep Street and opens on January 18th.

“The existing McColl’s store was larger than needed and by relocating, we have taken the opportunity to improve the store.

“The Post Office will be open for longer hours following the move, in fact, it will be open all the hours the main store trades.”

Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 5.30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Previously the post office opened only Monday to Saturday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and 1pm on Saturdays.

Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 5.30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Previously the post office opened only Monday to Saturday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm and 1pm on Saturdays.

The move will leave a large retail hole in Sheep Street.

Ben Jackson, president of Bicester Chamber of Commerce, said he hoped a larger empty unit would attract more interest than a small shop.

He said: “Having the Post Office more central should draw more footfall to that area.

“A vacant larger floor area unit could attract more interest than the smaller traditional ones.”

Last year discount retailer Poundland confirmed it was hoping to open a new site in the Bicester area before Christma.

But the firm has not yet moved to Bicester.

Town and district councillor Les Sibley said the potential for a large empty unit on Sheep Street “was a cause for concern”.

But said: “Hopefully it’s a temporary blip. Bicester is really bucking the trend and this is where people are investing.”

The post office moved into McColls in 1997.Wetherspoons’ Penny Black pub now occupies that premises.