THE Post Office is asking people in New Earswick for their views on a plan to move the village’s branch into a convenience store.

The current post office in Hawthorn Terrace Central could close if plans to move the service to an “open-plan local-style” branch in the nearby Londis store go ahead.

Carol Harrison, the village’s sub-postmistress, ran the post office for 11 years with her husband, Stuart, until his death 20 months ago. She has since carried on running the office alone.

Carol said she was now ready to retire due to ill health and the stationery and cards business she ran at the post office shop would also close.

The post office has said the proposals for the new site would include extended opening hours and seven-day opening.

An eight-week-long public consultation has now been launched to give residents and customers a chance to have their say on future post office services in the village. Adrian Wales, Post Office regional manager, said: “We understand how important Post Office services are to residents in New Earswick and we are confident this new modern branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

New Earswick is part of a national Post Office modernisation programme.

The plans would see the new Post Office open from 6.30am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 9pm on Sundays, and could be in place by March next year.

The current New Earswick Post Office is owned by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, and a spokesman has confirmed they are aware of the plans and will consider options for the site including new tenants soon.

The Post Office consultation will close on January 27 next year. Submissions can be made by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline on 08457 22 33 44, or online at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 232349.