POST Office counter services will be returned to Downend’s high street “as soon as possible”, the company says.
The McColls newsagent in Downend Road, which included a post office counter with security screens at the back of the shop, closed for refurbishment in January.
It reopened in February as a Morrisons Daily, as part of a reorganisation by the supermarket chain, which bought McColls out of administration in 2022.
But the old counter has been removed and the store currently has no Post Office services, despite having prominent logos on the new shopfront.
A hand-written sign was placed in the window saying: “No post office until further notice (Sorry).”
Resident Margaret Hanwell said she was writing to Morrisons to complain.
She said: “I was advised that when the post office re-starts it will just be the one cash register alongside main till.
“It doesn’t strike me that Morrisons are really interested in providing a post office service to the people of Downend.
“It seems almost inevitable that the service to local people will diminish, as the post office staff will have a smaller and less secure space to work in.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “Due to an unforeseen issue with cabling, the Post Office counter is not currently operational.
“We are working hard to restore the Post Office service as soon as possible.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the branch being closed longer than expected. In the interim, alternative branches include Mangotsfield and Staple Hill.”
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We have looked into this with the team and the post office is temporarily closed and we hope to reopen soon.”