A PENSIONER has criticised the decision to close One Stop in St Peter’s next month with the Post Office housed inside it struggling to find a new base.

It was announced in November that the mini supermarket in Abbotsbury Court was due to shut sometime this summer, and this has now been confirmed as August 21, with the Post Office to close on August 17.

Tesco PLC, which owns One Stop, has said it cannot facilitate the Post Office in its superstore on nearby St Peters Drive and it remains unclear whether the service will be lost entirely.

Mike Kent said the loss of the Post Office and Tesco’s “point blank refusal to open a franchise in the main store” is “unforgiveable”.

“I would be very interested to read your justification for removing this facility from the community,” he wrote in an email to the company.

“In particular the elderly who have no access to the internet, and who may be unable to travel to the nearest alternative, well over a mile away.”

The 69-year-old, of Marten Croft, St Peter’s, said he is baffled by the decision to close the convenience store, as it has “consistently exceeded financial targets”.

“Ever since the district of St Peter’s has existed, it has been served by a convenience store at Abbotsbury Court,” he continued.

“This store has provided an invaluable service to the local populace, in particular hosting a Post Office.”

Mr Kent believes the “one possible explanation” is that Tesco hopes to move One Stop’s trade to the superstore, which he said is a “dangerous game to play” since it has “already lost customers” to Aldi and B&M.

A Post Office spokesman said the postmaster has resigned and because it does not own the premises, it has had to withdraw its service.

A One Stop spokesman said closing the store was “was not a decision that was taken lightly”.

In a letter to customers, Post Office multiples account executive Damien Haydock said: "We are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community."

The nearest alternative branches in the area are at Bath Road and Cherry Orchard.

Any retailer interested in incorporating a Post Office in their premises should email ND.enquiries@postoffice.co.uk or 0333 345 5560.