A Shrewsbury councillor today said there was “significant demand” for postal services in an area of the town where a post office branch has been closed for more than a year, as talks continue to try to get it reopened.

Councillor Alan Mosley, a Shropshire councillor for the Castlefields area, said people had faced “hardship” because of the closure of Castlefields Post Office. The branch closed on September 4 last year.

Its interim sub-postmaster decided he could not continue with the business.

Residents, particularly elderly and vulnerable people, have spoken out about how difficult their life has been made by the closure.

It has meant them having to travel a lot further to get to a branch, or finding other ways of using services they would have used at the post office.

Post Office Ltd bosses have previously said they were still hopeful of finding a solution, despite having had no interest in the branch by May – seven months after it closed.

Yesterday, the company said that there was some positive news as talks were ongoing with a business person about reopening the branch.

The firm said it had got an “expression of interest from a business person” and was in early talks with the individual.

Today Councillor Mosley said: “It’s great news.

‘I’ve been talking to the business person and the post office and I’m pleased that the post office is able to announce that progress is being made.

“Obviously it’s caused hardship for people. The post office was well used when it was open and people have been consistently complaining about the difficulties and asking about it reopening.

“There is significant demand for postal services and people have missed not having them. I can only hope that the progress reaches fruition.”

Councillor Mosley has previously called on post office bosses to consider installing an outreach service, similar to ones in rural areas, if no interest is shown in a full branch reopening.

Post Office Ltd has repeatedly said it is “committed to restoring a post office service in the area”.

By John Kirk