New Dilton Marsh Post Office could be open by December

DILTON Marsh could be getting a new Post Office at Fairfield Farm College.

The village lost its Post Office in February this year but a group of villagers has been campaigning for a new one.

Now they hope to have found a site at Fairfield  Farm  College,  which  is  a  dedicated  college  in the village for  older  teenagers  with  special  needs.

The  college  already  has  a  shop  and  the  aim  is  to  introduce  the  post  office to complement  this.

The new Post Office could be open as early as December after Wiltshire Council agreed a £5,000 grant.

Cllr Jerry Wickham, who is heavily involved with the project, said, “It’s brilliant and a positive step in the right direction. We just have to wait to hear from the Trustees of Fairfield Farm College as to whether they will fund the rest.

“But indications show that they very much like the idea and support the plans so hopefully they will cover the remaining costs.

“I was dismayed when the Post Office closed in February. Local services are so important, especially in large villages. We really hope we can have the shop up and running by December this year but obviously with all these things, dates can change.”

Whilst  the  college  has  charitable  status,  discussions  with  the  Post  Office  have  shown  that  to  introduce  the  facilities  would  not  directly  affect  this  status  and  would  run  in  tandem  with  the  benefits  offsetting  any  costs  incurred  by  the  college.

Cllr Jerry Wickham continued, “It’s so important that for facilities of this type, are supported by the community. I really hope that people embrace the Post Office because it’s for them.”