DESPITE parking concerns Kingsteignton’s Exeter Road Post Office is to relocate to 33 Ley Lane.
Following a public consultation period, the Post Office has agreed to relocate to Ley Lane Stores and extend opening hours, including Sundays. The date of the move will be announced soon.
During the public consultation concerns were voiced about parking at the new site. The Post Office has said Ley Lane Stores will address this with new forecourt parking, including a disabled bay.
The new post office will be an open-plan ‘local-style’ branch and will offer Post Office products and services from an open-plan till at the shop counter, instead of a separate screened counter.
It will be open an extra 66 hours a week, including Sundays. Counter service will be provided throughout shop opening hours, which are Monday to Sunday, from 6am to 10pm.
The move from 156 Exeter Road is with the current postmaster’s agreement.
A spokesman for the Post Office said: ‘During public consultation we received a number of comments from customers. The feedback was mainly in support of the move as customers welcomed the easier access, open plan format and longer opening times that would be available at the proposed new branch.
‘There were, however, concerns regarding parking and congestion in the area. We have reviewed the parking and there is roadside parking around the premises. Also, the new operator is to provide extra parking on the forecourt, and will mark out customer parking bays including a dedicated disabled bay.
‘While the new location is approximately half-a-mile from the current site we appreciate that for some customers the new branch will be further away, while for other customers the branch will be closer.
Regional manager Julia Marwood added: ‘We are confident this new modern service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.
‘This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.’