WHILE some village post offices in Cambridgeshire will face the axe next month, the new town of Cambourne could soon gain its first branch. The branch is set to open in one of the unused units in the Sackville House building, which also houses the town s

WHILE some village post offices in Cambridgeshire will face the axe next month, the new town of Cambourne could soon gain its first branch.

The branch is set to open in one of the unused units in the Sackville House building, which also houses the town's library and the Monkfield Medical Practice.

Cambridgeshire County Council is in discussion with Post Office Ltd, which has been searching for a suitable site for a branch in Cambourne.

Although the plan has been given the green light by senior councillors at CCC, the scheme is still at an early stage and there is no indication as to when the post office might open.

CCC member for communities Fred Yeulett said: "The Council is committed to providing services to all sections of the community and our library at Bar Hill already incorporates a post office, following the closure of the previous branch in the village.

"This move would much improve the range of facilities that are available to people living and working in Cambridgeshire's newest community."

Currently people in Cambourne have to travel to Papworth Everard, Hardwick or Bourne for post office services.

Sackville House is also the headquarters of CCC's trading standards team and is the first shared-use building in the county. The building has won a prestigious international award for best practice in the use of library facilities.

Clayton Hudson, the chairman of Cambourne Parish Council, said: "This is a facility the people of Cambourne have been waiting for and we actively encourage all discussions that could lead to the opening of a post office.

"If it is to be situated in Sackville House it will be conveniently located for Cambourne residents in the retirement building nearby and there is good car parking.

"Having said that, people are not too fussed about where the post office goes, so long as we get one."

Cambourne County Councillor Lister Wilson added: "I am pleased that Sackville House could provide a post office for the town - Cambourne needs such a facility and I am sure it would be well used by both the local and business community.