PROPOSALS to relocate the Post Office branch in a County Durham village, doubling opening hours, have been unveiled.
If the move goes ahead, a modern open plan branch will be based at Kash Retail, in Shirley Terrace, Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland.
A six week public consultation exercise has now begun into whether villagers would support moving the branch from its currently location in nearby Swan Street.
Post Office officials say the proposal is part of major nationwide modernisation programme to make it easier for customers to do business.
Proposed opening hours would be 6.30am-9pm, Monday to Sunday. This would give customers 101.5 hours of service per week – more than double the current level.
If backed, the branch would operate as Post Office local, a new concept whereby Post Office products and services are available alongside retail transactions during shop opening hours.
The consultation will close on October 22 and comments can be sent by Freepost to Your Comments, Post Office Ltd; by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk; via the customer helpline on 08457-223344 or textphone 08457-223355.
There is also an online questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk, using the branch code 31130999.
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