Despite the whispers, the Post Office will not be closing at Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon.
It is simply proposing to move to new location – number 21 (moving from 29) – within the centre.
In fact, the Post Office say they are confident that introducing “a local style branch alongside a successful retail store is the most effective way to safeguard sustainable Post Office services in the local community”.
In a letter to Council, the Post Office confirmed that a new operator has been appointed, who has identified an alternative location to operate ‘Centre Post Office’.
The proposed premises would undergo a refurbishment to incorporate the Post Office within a bigger retail unit.
The new operator firmly believes that the move would “help to secure continued access to Post Office services locally, as well as supporting the viability of their business”.
The correspondence added: “Our priority is to safeguard our services in the locality in the longer term and the relocation of Centre Post Office would enable us to maintain a Post Office service to our customers.”
The Post Office has already begun a period of local public consultation which will come to an end on Thursday, January 30.
The proposed relocation will happen towards the end of next month, or early March at the latest.
As well as a change of venue, the Post Office will operate longer opening hours (9am-9pm Monday-Friday; 9am-6pm Saturday and 1pm-6pm on Sunday).
Ulster Unionist councillor, Kate Evans, welcomed the correspondence.
“I have had a lot of phone calls about the misinformation going around when in fact it’s just moving from number 29 to 21,” she said.
“It’s great to see some clarity on this issue.”
You can have your say on the consultation here.
