A VITAL local service has returned to Lyme Regis with the opening of a Post Office counter at Waffle Lyme Regis.
The service has been launched with the financial backing of Lyme Regis Town Council, which has provided both start-up funding and ongoing subsidy to support the Post Office over the next five years.
The counter has popped up in a discreet corner of the community café in Broad Street and has been welcomed by local residents and businesses following the closure of the Post Office in the same building in 2022.
The provision of a Post Office was high among residents’ priorities when the town council last consulted on its objectives, also in 2022, and it has since been looking for opportunities to deliver on this.
When Waffle took on its premises, the team saw an opportunity to combine their café space with an essential local service.
Director of Waffle, Matt Smith said: “We had no idea what we were getting into at first but the more we spoke with residents, the clearer it became that having a Post Office in the town really mattered to people.
“That kept us going, even when it looked like it might not happen.”
The project nearly stalled when Post Office funding for set-up costs was withdrawn mid-application.
Lyme Regis Town Council stepped in with a grant to cover the initial outlay, in addition to the five-year funding to help with running costs.
Without this backing, Matt said the project would not have been possible.
He hopes the counter will become more than a place to post parcels.
Matt said: “We want the Post Office to be a hub that connects people to other forms of community support, whether that’s IT help, financial advice, or simply a space to bump into a neighbour.
“Community infrastructure like this creates opportunities for connection, which are vital for our wellbeing.
“The Post Office itself won’t make a profit, but it’s a community investment. Every coffee or slice of cake bought alongside a stamp helps keep the lights on and ensures Lyme continues to have this essential service.”
The new Post Office combi counter will offer everyday services such as posting letters and parcels, buying stamps, collecting and returning pre-paid items, paying bills, topping up utilities, and basic banking.
It will be open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, alongside Waffle’s café hours.
The mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Philip Evans said: “I’m delighted the town council has been able to step in to support the opening of a post office counter. The service is essential to our local community and with the Lyme Link bus dropping off and picking up right outside Waffle, it couldn’t be easier for residents to access it.
“Congratulations to the team at Waffle – they have faced many challenges and at one point, it looked like it may not happen at all.
“But by working together, the council and Waffle have bucked the trend and reinstated a service we feared we had lost in Lyme Regis.”