Waringstown Post Office could be on the move to new premises

A proposal has been made to relocate the branch to Clear Pharmacy, 350 metres away from its current home on the Banbridge Road.

The move would see opening hours extended by 19 hours per week, but no decision will be taken until an eight-week public consultation is carried out.

While announcing the proposal, Post Office confirmed there would be no further branch closures.

Post Office is now inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments on the move in a eight-week public consultation.

Should the move go ahead, the branch would open from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8.30am to 6.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday and from 9am to 5.30pm on Saturday. This would be 19 hours more than are currently offered.

Previously Waringstown Post Office had been closed at lunch time and not open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.

The proposed move is part of major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments.

Post Office Regional Network Manager for Northern Ireland, Suzanne Richardson said: “We understand how important Post Office services are to residents in Waringstown 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 proposed changes to the branch are 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.”

Ulster Unionist Jo-Anne Dobson commented: “I welcome any move which increases services in Waringstown, however am concerned that this announcement from the Post Office may result in the opposite effect.

“When I first heard about the proposed changes I asked for a meeting with Post Office officials and will be meeting them in January.

“My party colleagues and I fought hard to have the post box in the centre of the village reinstated following an accident earlier this year and will be giving our views that far from being reduced, the postal services in Waringstown should be increased.”