Post Office provision to continue in Cowes

Further to reports from the Post Office that Cowes could be without a Post Office for nearly three weeks, this

To avoid a temporary closure of Cowes Post Office, M&S has agreed to let the branch continue to operate from its car park until its new temporary location is ready.

M&S recognised the need for a fully operational Post Office branch at such a busy time of year, and was happy to extend the arrangement as a gesture of goodwill.

Portable building in the car park
Cowes Post Office used to operate from inside The Southern Co-operative Store at Terminus Road, Cowes, PO31 7XH, until the property was sold to M&S. For the past six months, the Post Office has operated from a portable building in the M&S supermarket car park while a new location is found.

The temporary Post Office branch in the car park was originally due to close on 12 November so that the area could be in full use in time for the retailer’s busy festive trading period. However, M&S agreed to the longer Post Office stay to support local residents ahead of Christmas.

Replacement building operational from 1 Dec
A replacement temporary building has already been delivered to Cowes Yacht Haven, Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes, PO31 7BD. It will be operational from 1 December at 9am.

Since August, Cowes Post Office has been operated by a temporary postmaster, who will continue to operate the branch from the new temporary building in the Yacht Haven. Opening hours will remain the same.

Julia Marwood, Regional Area Manager, said:

“We want to thank M&S for its support. We know there has been a great deal of uncertainty over Cowes Post Office this year. We are committed to maintaining Post Office services in Cowes. We have been working hard to achieve this by providing two temporary solutions until we have a new permanent Post Office. We thank the Post Office staff and customers for their patience.”

Nathaniel Dunkley, M&S Cowes Store Manager, added: