DOWNEND faces losing its post office after Morrisons said it could close the high street shop that hosts it.
The supermarket announced at the end of May that it was proposing to take the “tough but necessary decision” to close 100 Morrisons Daily convenience stores.
The shop in Downend Road is one of the “loss making” former McColls branches that could go.
Morrisons has declined to comment further on the shop’s future while it carries out a consultation with workers.
Frenchay & Downend ward South Gloucestershire councillor Liz Brennan says she has been told by staff that the consultation will end on July 16, with closure possible any time from the 17th onwards.
Morrisons said a review had identified a number of former McColl’s stores “whose performance has been challenged for a number of years and which are loss making, despite remedial action”.
It said: “This situation has been exacerbated in more recent years by significant cost increases resulting from Government policy choices, which have made returning these stores to profitability even more difficult.”
The company said affected staff would be offered “all necessary support”, including offering some alternative jobs elsewhere in the business.
Post Office Ltd said it had been informed by Morrisons about the proposal to close the store.
A spokesperson said: “We fully recognise the inconvenience this will cause our customers who rely on our banking and parcel services in particular.
“We will therefore be advertising the vacancy for the branch on our runapostoffice.co.uk website shortly and welcome applications from nearby retailers looking to host a post office inside their store.”
Cllr Brennan said: “Downend residents deserve a good, working Post Office service, and with no bank remaining in the area, the potential loss would have a real impact on our community, particularly for older residents and those who depend on local access day to day.
“I have written to Morrisons to raise the concerns residents have shared with me.”
Fellow ward councillor Raj Sood said the loss of the post office would be “disastrous”.
Cllr Sood previously applied for Downend to have a ‘banking hub’ to provide face-to-face access for multiple banks, but was told the application had been turned down because the post office could be used for banking.
He plans to campaign again for a banking hub if the decision to close Morrisons is confirmed.
Cllr Sood said: “Cost cutting is not always the best course and cash machines will never be able to replace the human touch.”
Morrisons bought McColl’s convenience store business out of administration in 2022.
The Downend shop was refurbished in 2024, but with only one relocated Post Office counter, which was dogged by technical and staffing problems.
After complaints, Morrisons assured customers later that year that it was committed to providing Post Office services.