A POST office owner fears she could be put out of business by a Morrisons convenience store.

The M Local convenience store is to take over the site of the Silver Jubilee Pub, in Hilton Road, Canvey.

Mandy Chatha who runs the Winter Gardens Post Office and shop in Central Avenue, fears she could lose business.

Mrs Chatha said: “My main concern is they are going to try to take everyone’s business and it is going to cause competition. It’s not on. I feel sorry for the local shops.”

The post office, open for 22 years, depends on the success of its convenience store to finance its postal services.

There are three other post offices on Canvey – CanveyVillage in Craven Avenue, Canvey Island in the High Street and Canvey-on- Sea also in the High Street.

Mrs Chatha said: “I feel local business should have been consulted.

We are a post office and a convenience store and it is just not fair all these big companies are taking over.”

Steven Cole, councillor for Winter Gardens, said: “The shop is such a focal point and I understand they are worried about losing business. It’s been there as long as I can remember. It’s always open and they are lovely people.

“As long as they have the post office side of things I think they will be OK. It’s a real shame and it’s something I don’t want to see closed. They’ve put so much hard work into it and it’s a vital part of the community. They are always so happy and polite.”

A customer, who did not wish to be named, said: “It was a pub not a supermarket and now this supermarket is coming along it’s going to push out shops and have an adverse effect.

“I’ve used the post office for years. I go in every week for my paper and the lottery. It’s wrong that Morrisons can just sail in, putting others out of business. We are the ones who are going to suffer.”

Dave Blackwell, Canvey independent councillor, said: “I know the post office very well and they are an excellent small store and they provide a wonderful service on the island.”

Supermarket giant Morrisons has applied to Castle Point Council for a new premises licence.

If approved, the store will be open Monday to Sunday from 6am to 11pm. Morrisons could not confirm when the store will open or howmany jobs will be created.

The historic King Canute pub is also being turned into a supermarket, with the Co-op planning to open a store at the Canvey Road site.