MORRISONS insists it is committed to providing Post Office services in Downend, despite a number of recent closures.
The counter service at the store in Downend Road has been hit by a series of problems since the supermarket giant closed the McColls newsagent for refurbishment in January and reopened it as a Morrisons Daily, relocating the counter from the back to the front of the shop.
At first the shop had no post office service at all, with an “unforeseen issue with cabling” to the new counter cited as the reason for the delay.
Later closures were blamed on staff shortages and in early September a sign was placed on the counter saying that it was temporarily closed due to a fault with the terminal.
Readers have contacted the Voice to raise their concerns, with Bromley Heath resident Mary Burgess saying: “We no longer have a local working post office. Shame on you Morrisons.”
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We’re working hard to ensure our team members have the necessary login IDs and essential training required for processing transactions and the mandatory checks required by Post Office Limited.
“We are committed to offering Post Office services at our Downend store and hope to have the service open and fully operational as soon as possible.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “Downend Post Office is operated on our behalf by Morrisons.
“There have been staffing issues at the branch. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.
“Morrisons is urgently working through these to ensure service is resumed.”