THE Post Office has confirmed it will go ahead with plans to move its Milnthorpe branch from Park Road to the McColls store in The Square.

The ‘new local style Post Office’ will operate from two serving points at the shop counter, meaning Post Office products and services will be carried out alongside retail transactions.

Regional Network Manager Suzanne Richardson said that, during a six-week public consultation, residents voiced concerns about “a range of issues, including access to and into the proposed premises, the availability of space, possible congestion and parking issues on Friday when the market is held, customer privacy and confidentiality and staff training at the proposed new branch.”

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In response to concerns about elderly and disabled customers alterations, are to be made to the store, and some fixtures and fittings will be re-aligned or removed.

Ms Richardson said: “The new layout will also ensure that privacy is provided at the Post Office serving points with clearly marked queuing arrangement for Post Office customers.”

Post Office Ltd also said the move will result in ‘significantly longer opening hours’ and more extensive parking, but admitted “some customers would be slightly inconvenienced” on Fridays when parking is not permitted in The Square between 6am and 6pm.

Jim Robson, chairman of Milnthorpe Parish Council, said it was ‘generally supportive’ of the move.
“Some villagers will be very sad to see it move because it’s a long-standing feature but we must keep it in the village and the new one will be more accessible for many people.”