A Chatham Post Office is looking for a new home following the closure of the shop it operates in.

Morrisons Daily in Luton Road shut its doors on Saturday, 15 August, as 52 branches close across the country.

This forced the Post Office to shut along with it, leaving residents to travel up to a mile away to the nearest alternative branch.

However, the Post Office has now confirmed it has received interest from local retailers and business owners to restore a service in Luton.

“We fully recognise the inconvenience this will cause our customers and small businesses who rely on our banking and parcel services in particular, so we want to open a replacement branch as soon as possible,” a Post Office spokesperson said.

“The vacancy has already been advertised and we have received expressions of interests. We are now looking more closely at the interest expressed.”

As part of this the Post Office would check the suitability of the premises and the applicants.

The successful applicant could receive up to £11,200 per year in fees to run the Post Office in their shop.

In June, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tristan Osborne, said the community still needed a Post Office after concerns about the closure were raised by residents and ward councillors.

“I have written to the Post Office expressing my desire – on behalf of constituents – to retain a Post Office in Luton, Chatham,” he said in a Facebook post.

“I can confirm the Post Office will seek to retain a profile locally and I will be working to promote a public sector hub provision at a local library.”

It is not yet known when a decision on the reopening of Luton Post Office will be made.

In the meantime residents are encouraged to visit the nearest alternative branches at 5 Scotteswood Avenue, Chatham, and 80-82 Watling Street, Gillingham.

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