Customers of Birchington Post Office are asked for their views on a proposed move into neighbouring The Co-operative.

The Post Office has launched six weeks of consultation before shifting the branch from 76 into the convenience store at 78-80 Station Road.

The new look facility proposed would offer a modern open-plan retail environment, with trading hours doubled - extended by 59 hours a week.

It has been agreed by the current subpostmaster. Post office users and interested parties are urged to comment before October 17.

The change is planned in November.

It has been put forward as part of a major modernisation programme across the Post Office network.

The new Birchington Post Office would have a mixture of two open-plan, one screened and a Post Office serving point at the retail counter. It is a new concept for delivering selected Post Office products and services alongside retail transactions during shop opening hours, from 7am-10pm, Monday to Sunday, meaning the branch would open earlier and close later every day.

Will Russell, Post Office regional network manager for the South, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in this area of

Birchington and we are confident that the new branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“The modernisation is part of a major investment programme to convert the Post Office network to new-style branches. This investment, the largest in the

history of the Post Office, makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

What do you think? Let the Post Office know by writing to: Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, or via email at: comments@postoffice.co.uk, or on the Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.