Friends of Felpham want to buy Felpham post office

Friends of Felpham have set up a community interest company and are embarking on a drive to raise the money to buy and run the post office in the village, which has been put up for sale.

The four-bedroom property, in Felpham Road, has been listed with a price of £795,000.

The group said the post office is a “vital” community asset and if they are successful in their campaign, they will make it “even more special” by adding further facilities and services.

“Felpham has had a Post Office since 1847,” a spokesman for Felpham Friends said.

“Now the Felpham Village Post Office and shop is up for sale and there is a strong possibility we could lose this vital community amenity: the very heartbeat of the village.

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“Our post office provides many essential services, not least banking.

“At the time when many major banks are shutting their doors in Bognor, the post office closure would leave many people, especially the elderly, with no safe and friendly place to bank.

“The post office is the hub of the village. People meet to chat, inside and out.

“There are pop-ups selling, among other things, delicious food, fragrant plants and crafts.

“This is not just Felpham’s story. It’s happening across the region.

“Lose the post office and the village will die taking other businesses with it, becoming a collection of houses not a close-knit, supportive community.”

A Post Office spokesman said it is happy to support the group in its endeavour.

“We have not received a resignation from the postmaster for Felpham. It is currently business as usual,” they said.

“The postmaster has started marketing the business for sale. We understand that the village is exploring ideas to raise funds to buy this Post Office and shop.

“There are many community-run post offices across the UK and we are happy to share our knowledge of what is involved with setting up a community-owned post office and shop.”