FRUSTRATION is growing that Bridgwater could again find itself without a permanent post office during the hectic Christmas and New Year period.

A seven-week consultation on Post Office plans to base its main Bridgwater office in Sainsbury’s ended on September 5.

As the consultation closed, regional network manager Tony Jones said it would take at most four weeks for a decision to be made.

However, he told the Mercury this week: “No final decision has been made.

“It’s a complex one and we’re taking our time to go through all our options.

“I can’t say when the decision will be made.”

Earlier this year, the Mercury launched a campaign called Time To Deliver, urging the Post Office to move swiftly to bring a permanent office back to Bridgwater.

But the Post Office’s preferred location, Sainsbury’s, has been widely criticised by councillors and customers who say Bridgwater must have a town centre outlet which people can walk to easily.

Alan Hurford, Bridgwater town clerk, said: “People ask me what’s happening with the post office every day, but every enquiry we submit comes back with ‘we have not reached a decision and are considering all our options’.

“I find it very unsatisfactory when they’re supposedly working to deadlines."