BRAMHOPE’s residents will have to keep getting by without a Post Office for the foreseeable future.

The village had been without its own Post Office for ten years before a new branch opened within the Christalya corner shop, on Tredgold Avenue, in early 2018.

That branch closed in May, 2019, however and the Post Office has now given an update which says that attempts to provide an alternative service have proven unsuccessful.

In a message to local councillors it said: “The Post Office closed last year for reasons beyond our control as the postmaster resigned and withdrew the premises for Post Office use.

“Since then we have been exploring our options for restoring a PO service to our customers in the area.

“The vacancy in this area of Leeds has been advertised on our website and a member of the field team has also personally visited the area, but so far we have received no interest or formal applications for the position.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to identify a suitable solution and I’m therefore writing to you and other local representatives to advise you that, as there have been no suitable opportunities to re-establish a service, this branch will remain closed.

“We would, of course, consider any appropriate options if there are any significant changes in the area in the future.

“However., due to the length of time the branch has been closed, we would need to satisfy ourselves that any new opportunity would be sustainable for both the Post Office and the operator.”

The letter concludes: “We regret that we have been unable to restore a service locally and have provided details at the end of this letter of possible alternative branches in the area, which we hope our customers will continue to use.”

Bramhope residents can use Post Office services in places like Pool-In-Wharfedale, Otley and Cookridge but they are all several miles away.

That is far from ideal and Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel & Wharfedale) is hoping that things may yet change for the better.

He said: “It is important that places like Bramhope have a Post Office, rather than people having to get in their cars and go somewhere else; and not just for the climate change agenda.

“As a local councillor I am hoping one of the local businesses will come forward as a possibility.

“If there are none, then a Post Office is lost to Bramhope.

“The problem is that the remuneration for small shops who incorporate Post Offices is very little and they rely on side trade to make up for it. It is difficult to sell the concept of running a Post Office to small businesses.”