A village post office and shop that 'temporarily' closed in July 2022 looks now set to be turned into domestic space, if Forest of Dean District Council agrees on the requested change.

Tourists visiting the ancient coal mining village of Ruardean, just north west of Cinderford, have been unable to browse postcards or buy stamps since summer 2022, when the combined shop and off-licence, run as Bare Necessities and tucked away in the sidestreet of Hart Lane, closed down.

The Post Office issued a statement at the time that the village's postmaster had resigned.

Scott Lacey, PO Network Provision Lead, said: "The provision of a Post Office service to our customers in the local community is important to us, and we will continue to work hard to restore services in the area.

He added that the PO would welcome applications from potential retail partners interested in running a branch locally on the company's behalf: "The vacancy is currently being advertised on our website and applications will be carefully considered."

Mr Lacey went on: "I would like to assure you that we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community. In exploring this, it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited."

Future provision, he said, would need to reflect customer numbers and usage, "and we may take the opportunity to establish an alternative type of service. This may be a local style branch which runs alongside an established retail shop in newly refurbished premises and creates a more modern and convenient experience for customers."

However, in the wake of the announcement, the Post Office has laid on a mobile van service to the village, which visits for 45 minutes every Friday morning, calling at the car park of Ruardean Hill Sports Club.

Since the closure, London House, which houses the 47.3 sq m retail area and has six bedrooms, has been marketed by Lydney-based estate agents Ferrino and Partners as a "lifestyle or investment opportunity... with the option for continued business use". It is currently priced at £399,999. 

The agent also indicates that the property has potential to be subdivided into two dwellings, if any request were approved.

Ferrino told planners that the property was originally marketed from October 2022 at £425,000, but had seen only four viewings, adding: "London House represents problems to buyers based on the current residential/commercial mix."

Residential lenders would not currently fix mortgages on mixed use properties, the agent added, while "there have simply not been enough commercial buyers interested."

In a sustainability statement before planners, applicant and owner, Miss Kate Bellingham, told FoDDC: "In terms of heritage value of the external appearance of the shop there are no changes being made. The shop frontage will be maintained in its current structure and form which maintains the character of the building within Ruardean conservation area."

A decision is not expected before April.

● In 2022 Citizen's Advice collated research on the status of post offices serving rural areas and found that 1,291 were currently deemed 'temporarily closed', while almost six in ten had been shut for more than two years. One in three rural post offices at that date were offering as part-time outreach services, opening for an average of just 5.5 hours a week. Two per week were closing.