HIGHWORTH residents will get another opportunity to steer the future of their town post office when Midcounties Co-operative’s bid to take over goes to consultation.

Post Office yesterday said it would probably open a six-week window for comments from the public at the end of this month.

Postmasters at the existing Sheep Street branch, Paul and Karen Burdett, do not believe the business is viable any longer and were not prepared to meet the costs of modernisation rolled out by Post Office last year.

In November, Post Office Ltd revealed the results of its public consultation on a proposed move to Budgens in Swindon Road.

An overwhelming rejection by people who responded, as well as a 600-strong petition submitted by mayor Pam Adams, saw the proposals thrown out.

A new advert was released, seeking new bidders, with three initial interested parties, which have been whittled down to one, with Midcounties Co-operative the preferred option.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We are now progressing a single applicant for relocating Highworth Post Office.

“All applications have been considered and the best option is to be put forward for public consultation.

“We won’t divulge who the applicant is until we are ready to commence six-week public consultation.

“We hope to be in a position to commence public consultation later this month.”

The town’s mayor has watched the situation develop with interest, after the role she played in ensuring the public’s opposition to the Budgens plan was heard.

Mrs Adams said Post Office had not revealed details to her but had said it was looking to a business in the town centre to open the branch.

“Following the support of all the people of Highworth, I do feel as if we have won a battle here and the Post Office know we want one in the centre of town and that’s what they’re pursuing now,” she said.”

She also said that if the bid turned out to be from the Co-operative, she expected the response from the public to be positive.

“They will be very positive because the Co-op is within the centre of town.

“It’s not on the High Street, but there is a regular flow of people there and established footpaths.

“It’s in a safe place, which is what I wanted in the first place.”

The Burdetts did not comment.