The Post Office is proposing to move Newton Aycliffe Post Office from its current location to create a new main-style open-plan branch with significantly extended opening hours for customers. Opening hours would be extended by 17 hours a week and will offer a modern open-plan retail environment with a full range of Post Office services.
The proposed new location for the branch is 60b Beveridge Way, just 25 metres from its current location at 1 Beveridge Arcade, next to Heron. The Post Office is inviting customers and interested parties to comments on the move in a six-week public consultation.
The move is part of major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers with longer opening hours in a modern open plan shop.
The new Post Office would have five serving positions – a mixture of two screened and two open-plan counters, and a Post Office service point at the retail counter, available during shop opening hours.
Following the proposed relocation and subject to consultation, Post Office services would be available from 06:30-17:30 Monday to Saturday and 06:30-12:00 on Sundays, meaning customers would benefit from 71 and a half hours of service per week – 17 and a half more than are currently offered.
Post Office Regional Network Manager for Scotland and Northern England Suzanne Richardson said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Newton Aycliffe and we are confident that this new modern branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.”
She added: “The modernisation is part of a major investment programme to convert the Post Office network to new-style branches and this investment, the largest in the history of the Post Office, marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”
During the public consultation, Post Office Ltd welcomes feedback on any issues customers would like considered before a final decision is taken on this proposal. The consultation will close on 3rd December 2013. Submissions can be made by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline on 08457 22 33 44 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.
Customers can also share their views through the simple online questionnaire on postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 358309.
The Post Office, now independent of Royal Mail, is the largest retail network in the UK, with over 11,500 branches. It is also one of the UK’s fastest growing financial services companies and is developing its online and telephony services.
