Shortstown is set to lose its Post Office. The branch inside the Morrisons Daily store on North Drive will close on Sunday 9 August 2026, after Morrisons confirmed it is shutting the store and taking the Post Office counter down with it.
It is the latest blow to a fast-growing community that has already seen its local bus services cut and bus stops removed. For a designated local service centre that thousands of residents now call home, losing yet another everyday service has caused real concern, particularly for older people, those without a car, and anyone who relies on cash or on doing things in person.
Shortstown Post Office, at Morrisons Daily, North Drive, Shortstown, MK42 0TL, will close on Sunday 9 August 2026.
Here is what is happening, where residents can still get Post Office services, how to make your voice heard, and what is being done locally to fight for a replacement.
Why is it closing?
The closure is no reflection on the Shortstown branch itself. It follows Morrisons’ decision to close its Morrisons Daily store on North Drive. Because the Post Office is run inside that shop, when the shop closes the branch has to close with it.
The Post Office describes this as an “unplanned closure,” which means there is no formal six week public consultation, because the closure is driven by the store shutting rather than by a Post Office proposal. The Post Office has, however, said it will keep working to restore a service to the area, and may advertise the opportunity for a new local operator. Residents’ views still count, and the details for having your say are below.
Where can you still get Post Office services?
There are two nearby branches offering a similar range of services:
London Road Post Office (about 1.6 miles away)
219 London Road, Bedford, MK42 0PY
Open Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 20:00, and Sunday 09:00 to 20:00
Level access at the entrance, parking nearby, and local bus routes
As well as the usual services it offers Travel Money, Passport Check and Send, Vehicle Tax and On Demand Travel Insurance.
Elstow Post Office (about 2.1 miles away)
206 High Street, Elstow, Bedford, MK42 9XU
Open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30, closed Saturday and Sunday
A step and a ramp with handrails at the entrance, parking nearby, and local bus routes
As well as the usual services it offers Euro Travel Money.
You can always check the latest branch information and opening hours at postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder, or call 03457 22 33 44 for product availability.
How to have your say
Even though there is no formal consultation, the Post Office has invited comments, and residents are strongly encouraged to send them. The more the Post Office hears how much this branch is valued, the stronger the case for restoring a service. You can:
- Email comments@postoffice.co.uk
- Comment online at postofficeviews.co.uk
- Write to FREEPOST Your Comments
- Call 03452 66 01 15, or Textphone 03457 22 33 55
Please note the Post Office says comments are not kept confidential unless you clearly mark them “In Confidence.”
Can the community help bring a branch back?
Yes, and this is where local people can make a real difference. The Post Office restores services by finding a suitable local retailer willing to host a branch. If you run a shop or business in or around Shortstown, or you know someone who might be interested, the opportunity can be explored at runapostoffice.co.uk. A community minded retailer could help keep a Post Office at the heart of the village.
What Cllr Coombs and Tom Middleton are doing
Bedford Borough Councillor Leigh Coombs and Tom Middleton say they will not let the closure pass quietly, and are pressing for the best possible outcome for residents at both borough and parish level.
Both Cllr Coombs and Tom Middleton have already been in touch with the Post Office and with Morrisons about the closure. Cllr Coombs has also contacted local businesses in the area to find out whether there might be an opportunity for a new branch to be hosted in the village. They are calling for a firm commitment and a clear timetable to restore a service to Shortstown, with the needs of vulnerable and less mobile residents put first.
Tom Middleton is also supporting residents across the community and helping to keep people informed as the situation develops.
Together, Cllr Coombs and Tom Middleton say they will:
- Press the Post Office for a clear plan and timeline to restore a branch, not just a vague promise
- Raise the closure, and the wider loss of services in Shortstown, with Bedford Borough Council
- Help find a sustainable local retailer who could host a new branch
- Support residents, particularly older and vulnerable people, in getting the services they need in the meantime
- Keep the community updated as soon as there is any news from the Post Office
Residents affected by the closure, or anyone who knows a local business that might consider hosting a Post Office, are encouraged to get in touch with Cllr Coombs and Tom Middleton.
This page will be updated as soon as there is more news.
