Hopes for the return of a post office service in Wangford have been resurrected after a local MP met with the Post Office Network.

The village, near Southwold, has been without a post office outreach service since June 2009 and a proposal to re-establish a service – opening two days a week at the local community centre – fell through at late notice this September.

Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey has met Post Office Network (PON) bosses to push for the restoration of the Wangford service.

Although nothing has been definitely confirmed, Dr Coffey was told that plans for a service to return from February of next year are being made and was pleased with how the meeting went.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Coffey said: 'I don't want to raise false hopes but certainly there are plans being made. They didn't want to reveal any names at this point but they are in discussions for a service to start at the end of February and are confident that any problems can be overcome.'

Dr Coffey has requested a parliamentary debate on how the government subsidy of �500m to the Post Office Network is being spent and has also convinced minister for postal affairs, Ed Davey, to meet her to discuss the issue.

The lack of a local service in Wangford has left local residents having to use the post office in Southwold if they need to post packages.

The range of services the village enjoyed under the previous outreach scheme included cash benefits being collected using the everyday banking facilities, or the Post Office Card account, and counter staff available to advise on any services not available. These services were withdrawn in 2009, with the Post Office citing a lack of interest. Dr Coffey – who is also fighting for the futures of a post office service in other villages in her constituency, such as Walberswick and Blythburgh – added: 'I don't want to be a stick in the mud, I know some of the traditional services have changed.

'What I want is to support the new models that the post office can offer, such as mobile post offices that are available in other areas.'

david.freezer@archant.co.uk