ALTON Post Office is on the move and from August the service will relocate from its current site in the High Street to the WHSmith store in Westbrook Walk. The news has caused uproar in the local community with concerns raised about lack of space and accessibility. While Alton is getting bigger Post Office services are diminishing, they say. But Post Office Ltd is adamant – the company is currently losing £4m a week across the network, so "to do nothing is not an option". A spokesman for the Post Office told The Herald: "Clearly the level of loss is unsustainable and we need to deal with it." The move forms part of a partnership deal with WHSmith which, the Post Office believes, should safeguard the future of main Post Office services in towns like Alton. As with all franchise arrangements, WHSmith will manage the day to day operations with the full support and guidance of the Post Office to ensure the branch maintains service standards. The Post Office in Alton currently employs nine staff and they will be offered the option of employment in the new branch, of seeking redeployment elsewhere with Royal Mail, or voluntary redundancy. "We don't envisage any enforced redundancies," said the spokesman. The staff will in fact be employed by WHSmith whose own staff will continue to work in the shop. According to a WHSmith spokesman, the intention is to "create a shop within a shop" with the Post Office having its own dedicated area. There are to be four serving positions for the Post Office, comprising three open plan and one traditional style positions designated primarily as a Bureau de Change and for Giro banking. All services currently available at Alton Post Office will be on offer, including car tax renewal, passport checking, personal banking, PO card accounts, mail and parcel services. An internal ATM facility will also be available, although there will be no in- house stamp vending machines. Disabled customers will benefit from a low level writing desk and serving counter, an induction hearing loop, and level access through large doors. And the branch will benefit from extended opening hours from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. The new branch will be integrated into the existing WHSmith store which will continue to stock a range of products but in a more compact area. The decision follows the successful trial of six Post Offices in WHSmith stores last year. Customer response was said to be positive, with the majority of customers welcoming the pleasant environment, good levels of customer service, convenient locations and extended opening hours. Alton will be one of 70 Post Office services across the country to be brought into the franchise deal. A code of practice on how to deal with the branch network change has been agreed with Postwatch. The PO consumer council has recognised that the decision to transfer a PO branch to a franchise partner is a commercial decision to be taken solely by Post Office Ltd and it is, therefore, not subject to public debate or consent. However, while the Alton move is not viewed as a downgrading of service, the public is to be consulted on the proposed opening hours of the new branch, access arrangements and planned facilities. Local MP Michael Mates said that while he is aware that the Post Office is facing considerable commercial pressure, he has a number of concerns about this particular franchise proposal. Like others, his concern is that while little over 100 yards away from the current Post Office, the new branch will not be in the main High Street and its approach will involve negotiating a slope. Furthermore, there is no access to its frontage for disabled parking. With more than 500 new homes planned for Alton within the next two years and the closure of rural Post Offices like Four Marks, Alton Chamber of Commerce believes it would make more sense to move the franchised branch to the larger Post Office building. According to a spokesman, a commercially advantageous deal resulted in the sale of the freehold to that building in March and Post Office Ltd is leasing it back. However, there were, she reassured, no plans to relocate the sorting office which occupies the back of the building. Furthermore, it wouldn't make commercial sense to leave the PO part empty. l Alton CAB is undertaking a survey on the relocation of Alton Post office – forms can be picked up from the CAB office in Cross and Pillory Lane or from the Alton Herald. And Alton Town Council was due to discuss holding a public meeting to discuss the matter. The Post Office Ltd consultation period will close on June 14 – write to National Consultation Manager Philippa Wright at Post Office Ltd c/o PO Box 2060, Watford WD18 8ZW.
