MOVING Christow post office into the village stores will mean an extra 18 hours’ service a week, including Sunday mornings and secure the future of the service.
Post Office bosses have agreed to relocate to Christow Stores early in the new year, providing a ‘modern’, open plan local style branch.
Services will be provided from an open plan till at the shop counter instead of from a separate screened counter.
The relocation is part of a major modernisation programme, across the Post Office network, designed to make it easier for customers to do business through longer opening hours and modern, open plan environments.
Public consultation into the move at Christow revealed many customers were in support of the change, welcoming the move to a more easily accessible location and longer opening hours.
They were also pleased Post Office services would be retained in the village.
Other comments focused on parking and there is roadside parking available surrounding the stores.
Will Russell, regional manager, said: ‘We understand how important having a post office is to the residents in Christow and we are confident that this new, modern post office will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.
‘This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the post office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.’
The new branch will provide enhanced local services including manual banking, Transcash and Royal Mail and Parcelforce worldwide international parcels.
Cheque payments will still be accepted and the majority of existing post office products and services will still be available.
Services will be provided throughout the shop opening hours of 8.30am to 2pm and 3pm to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to noon Saturday and Sunday, giving an extra 18 hours a week than the current service.
The current branch in Village Road will close on Saturday, January 23, at 12.30pm and reopen at the new branch, just 230 metres away, at 1pm on Monday, January 25.