A Derry post office which shut in December is to re-open at a new location, it has emerged.
Efforts had been ongoing to save the branch at the Academy Road since September after the postmaster announced his intention to retire and had placed the business on the market.
Despite those efforts, the branch was forced to shut as no new postmaster was found prior to the date scheduled for closure.
The Post Office revealed earlier this year that a process had begun whereby expressions of interests were being sought for a new postmaster.
A number of business cases were put forward and considered by the Post Office.
The Derry News understands that this process is now coming to an end and the Post Office is on the verge of announcing a new postmaster to provide the service in the Rosemount area.
However, it is understood that the new post office will not be located at its former home, the building which lies at the junction of the Academy Road and Park Avenue, and will instead be located in a shop a short distance away.
The Derry News has learned that the original building was not deemed a viable option for the continuation of the post office in the area.
In statement issued earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Post Office said that while plans had yet to be ‘finalised’, a public consultation would begin in relation to what it described as the ‘proposed offsite new service’.
“We would hope to announce a proposal and enter a period of public consultation in the next few weeks,” the spokesperson added.
Commenting, Sinn Féin Councillor Mickey Cooper urged residents in the Rosemount area to take part in a consultation on Post Office services in the area which is now due to take place over the next six weeks.
“I am very pleased to have received confirmation from the Post Office that a successful candidate has been found to deliver a new service in Rosemount,” Councillor Cooper said.
“Before the successful candidate is ratified the Post Office must undertake a formal consultation process with the local community.
“I would urge as many residents as possible to be part of that consultation to ensure that the process to get the service up and running in Rosemount is completed as soon as possible.”
He added: “At all times I felt it was vitally important to maintain a Post Office counter service in this area and I would like to thank the Post Office for the work they have done to ensure this has been the case.”
The independent councillor Darren O’Reilly added that news a post office service would be returning to the area would come as a ‘relief’ to the community.
“The post office is vital lifeline for many people, including the elderly and vulnerable, and I’m delighted that process of getting the service reinstated had come along so quickly.”
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