Town centre post office to close

The Post Office is proposing to shut the branch on Cleveland Street, in Chorley town centre.

It would be replaced with counters based in the WHSmith shop on New Market Street.

A six-week consultation has been launched today for customers to give their views on the plans.

Roger Gale, general manager of the Post Office Crown Network, said: “We are committed to keeping our services on the high street which we know is hugely important to people. This proposal means we can continue to do that, into the future.

“Our customers will be offered the same range of services.

“Our collaboration with WHSmith helps secure the long-term viability of services for local customers.

“We are making sure we take the right course of action to sustain services for years to come. We must adapt to the changing needs of our customers, who want a convenient and flexible choice of when and how they do business with us – whether that is face to face, on the web or through new initiatives such as self-service kiosks.”

Under the proposals, there would be four Post Office serving positions in WHSmith - three open-plan counters and one screened - along with two self-service kiosks.

The staff currently working on Cleveland Street will move to the new site and the same services will be on offer.

It is proposed the branch would move in August.

But Malcolm Allen, chairman of Chorley Traders’ Alliance, said the move was a “blow” to the town, especially due to the lack of parking outside WHSmith.

He said: “It’s going to be a bugbear. For the people that haven’t got a post office near their own home, that come into the town especially for the post office, it’s going to be a problem.”

During the public consultation, which ends on June 15, people can have their say on factors such as the location, the proposed premises, accessibility or community issues that they would like considered before a final decision is made.

People can get involved by visiting postofficeviews.co.uk, emailing [email protected], calling 03457 22 33 44 or writing to FREEPOST Your Comments.