Honeybourne Post Office may be on the move (From Evesham Journal)

Honeybourne Post Office may be on the move

4:55pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News By Sarah Taylor

A VALE village Post Office is set to move to a new location where it will be open nearly 50 hours longer each week.

Current proposals will see Honeybourne Post Office, currently in the village High Street, relocated to Premier Stores.

If the village service was moved to the convenience shop in Stratford Road it would be open for 84 hours a week, 48.5 hours more than it is available at the moment.

The changes are part of an investment programme to modernise half the Post Office network around the country..

They coincide with retirement plans by Trish Probert, Honeybourne post mistress and parish councillor, who said she was keen to ensure the service stayed in the village.

“I am ready to retire after 23 happy years, but I want what is best for the village,” she said. “I don’t want the facilities lost from what is an ever growing village. My heart is in Honeybourne so I am trying to get what is best for it. I am hoping the Premier Stores will take up the opportunity.”

“We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Honeybourne and we are confident this new modern branch will make it easier for our customers to do business with us and also secure services for the future.”

Adrian Wales, Post Office regional network manager for central England

The proposals to create a modern, open-plan branch are yet to get the go-ahead and the Post Office is inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments in a six-week public consultation.

Adrian Wales, Post Office regional network manager for central England, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Honeybourne and we are confident this new modern branch will make it easier for our customers to do business with us and also secure services for the future.

“The investment marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

The new opening hours at the proposed location are Monday to Saturday from 7am to 8pm and between 8am and 4pm on Sunday.

Customers will be able to carry out a wide range of Post Office services including automated banking services, bill and budget payment schemes, Post Office card account, Postal Orders and postage; inland letters and packets (including signed for and special delivery), inland parcels, international letters, small packets and printed papers.

The consultation will close on March 21 and submissions can be made during the consultation by freepost to your comments, Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk or on 08457 22 33 44 or textphone 08457 22 33 55.