The future of a post office has been put in jeopardy as the owner's plans to save the facility have been scuppered.

Vince Ranzulla of the Mile End Post Office in Nayland Road, Colchester, had planned to save the post office and general stores by changing part of the shop into a fish and chip shop.

The plans for the takeaway have been refused by Colchester Council, but Mr Ranzulla has vowed to appeal against that decision.

He and his wife Sarah took over the premises last August, when it was already set to close.

But the couple decided to do their best to keep the facility open. Now, even though they have carried out improvements on the shop, they still need to bring in more custom if the post office is to survive.

Mr Ranzulla and his wife ran Vinny's restaurant in Head Street, Colchester, for more than 12 years and so decided to try and do what they knew best by incorporating catering into their new venture.

He explained many residents were behind his plans and he could not see why the alterations were not allowed.

Mr Ranzulla said: "The shop is big enough for a small fish and chip shop which is open no later than 8.30pm. We have had tremendous support from all around us."

He added the post office and shop needed all the support it could get especially from residents and the parish council, and added a petition was in the shop for people to show they were in favour of the plans.

David Whybrow, of Colchester Council's planning department, said the application had been dealt with by the head of planning under delegated powers as it was clearly against the council's policy.

He said the plans had been refused for a number of reasons including no parking provision and the possiblity of later evening opening in the residential area.

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