HOPES were high this week that a main Exmoor Post Office could be saved from closure after businesswoman Melanie Poole made a bid to take it over.

Dulverton Post Office was due to have closed in September with the retirement of Chris Dubery, who had been trying unsuccessfully for 18 months to sell it.

But a stay of execution has been approved until the New Year after Ms Poole applied to the Post Office to take on the business.

The application came about by chance after Ms Poole looked at the building with a view to opening a branch of her Everest Natural Pet Company business.

Ms Poole told the Free Press: “I was going to rent the premises and set up as a pet shop.

“But then they said why not see if we could run the Post Office as well.

“We could see it was busy so thought let us give it a go, what have we got to lose, if they say ‘yes’ that is fine, if they say ‘no’ then we cannot.

“So far, it has been pretty positive and it looks like we are going to be able to do it.”

Ms Poole said she had passed the first stage of her application to be allowed to take on the business and expected shortly to hear if she had been accepted for the necessary training.

She said: “It is a busy place, you can see the number of people who are using the Post Office and need it.

“It would be a shame if we could not carry on because it is obviously well used by the town.”

The Dulverton venture extends the reach of the pet supplies shop which Ms Poole already runs in Williton.

The pet company was formed in May, 2023, and recently celebrated its first anniversary of trading in Williton.

Mr Dubery ran Dulverton Post Office, in Fore Street, for many years with his wife Christine, who is chairman of Dulverton Town Council and who retired in December of last year.

He said more than 14 Post Offices had closed in the West Somerset and North Devon area in just 15 months.

Mr Dubery said he only managed to survive the Post Office Horizon computer glitch scandal by using thousands of pounds of his own money.

The Post Office is currently open mornings only from Monday to Friday each week, while the pet supplies trading is until 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.

Town councillors have urged local residents to show their support by using the business as much as they can.

Councillors pointed out the services included cash withdrawals, paying in cash and cheques to personal and business bank accounts, renewing vehicle licences, purchasing foreign currency, and buying Royal Mail postage.

Ms Poole also runs PurpleHorse Design Ltd, on a business park next to the West Somerset Railway, in Bishops Lydeard, which produces personalised and bespoke embroidery, equestrian and workwear.