Builth Wells could see permanent post office services returning this summer.

A local businesswoman has submitted a business plan to the Post Office to bring the vital service back to the town.

Tracy Houghton, owner of homeware shop Nightshades, says if the application is successful, post office services could return in August.

She said the community has been supportive about the plans, after 331 out of 332 people fully backed her survey to bring back the post office.

“Builth is a really tight community in comparison with a lot of places. When things do go wrong, you do get the support. It’s all good.”

Tracy said she’s applied for a two-man counter to be based in the shop and hopes to employ a part-time assistant. She will also under-go four months of training to become a postmistress.

“I’m going to push as many services as I can. Banking is a massive one, the passports and travel cards, and I might do lottery which they didn’t do before,” she said.

Builth Wells’ only post office closed in December 2018. Since March a post office on wheels has been based at The White Horse pub in Builth Wells on Tuesday between 9.30am and 3pm.

Tracy added that the town has been “suffering” without a permanent post office.

“I have a lot of little old ladies coming in here and some of them haven’t got anybody to get their pension for them or they’re not physically able to go and get them themselves. It’s really sad.”

She hopes the return of regular post office services will bring “some positivity back in the town”.

“Morale has been really low and obviously a couple of shops have had to close but now they’re reopening.

“I’ve lost so many customers to Llandrindod because they have to go to the Post Office. They have to spend hours up there so they do their shopping. Which is great for Llandrindod, and I know that they need it as much as Builth does but you try and look after your own town.”

She added: “I just hope everything will go smoothly and it has brought positivity back.”