BRADFORD on Avon’s town centre post office will be closed from mid-July to September much to the anger of people across the town.

On Wednesday the Bridge Yard Budgens store was taken over by Co-operative, temporarily closing the post office until Wednesday, June 29, before reopening at 9am.

Last week a Post Office spokesman said the post office counter would only close on Wednesday morning but have now announced it will be shut for six to seven weeks from mid July for an entire refit.

Mayor Alison Craddock said “I am horrified by this. This really vindicates the efforts by people who campaigned to keep the one in The Shambles open.

“It seems like everything in the town is closing down, with the road closures and now this. I am very sorry for people who have to get the bus up the hill to the Co-op or Trowbridge.

"This has not been communicated well at all. People should have been given a lot more notice so they can make alternative arrangements.

"First it was closing for 10 weeks, then not at all and now six to seven weeks - it is a shambles really."

With the post office counter closing, people will now have to head to the Co-op in Winsley Road, the Lower Westwood, Winsley or Hilperton Marsh Post offices which are 1.4 miles away and 2.3 miles away respectively.

Chairman of the town’s Senior’s Forum, Michael Darlow, said: “I think this is disgraceful and a tragedy. Simply put they are letting the community down and predominantly those with limited mobility.

“Slowly our services are being chipped away at. It just shows what happens when you privatise it. You only have interest in short-term profits.”

A Post Office spokesperson said: “The Post Office branch within the store needs to close at 5.30pm on Wednesday, June 22 and the branch is due to re-open on Wednesday, June 29 at 9am.

“This Post Office branch closure is longer than originally anticipated as hoardings will be put up during that time to temporarily separate the Post Office from the retail area, which is currently empty.

"This will allow major refurbishment work to begin on the supermarket side.

"The Post Office will keep on trading until mid- July when the whole premises needs to close for six-seven weeks for an entire refit.

"This approach will mean that Bradford On Avon Post Office will be closed for the shortest amount of time possible.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused to Post Office customers by the temporary periods of closure.”