Concerns have been raised after the Post Office began a consultation to relocate its Brotton branch.
The Post Office say relocating the branch from its current home on High Street to Foster Street would open it to customers for almost 50 hours more per week.
But Labour’s MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Tom Blenkinsop, and Labour councillors Brian Hogg and Doreen Rutland are worried about the proposed new location.
The Post Office proposals are part of a major modernisation programme designed to make it easier for customers to do business through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments.
Should the move go ahead, the branch would open from 9am to 9.30pm Monday to Sunday at the Parkway Store in the Park estate.
Adrian Wales, Post Office regional manager said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents and we are confident that 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.”
But Mr Blenkinsop said: “The location, if they are correct, is well away from the existing High Street PO and the other shops and is not on a road where there are buses stopping within yards in both directions.
“Additionally it is a considerable 10-15 minute walk for people from the “top end” of Brotton or from the streets running off the High Street.
“I think we will have to oppose this and we are now making contact with the Post Office to get more details. In the meantime I would ask local residents who also may have concerns to contact the Post Office consultation team or drop letters in to the existing post office for forwarding to the Post Office consultation team”
Cllrs Hogg and Rudland said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned about this proposed move.
“We have questions as to why a location so remote to the rest of Brotton has been proposed.”
Cllrs Hogg and Rutland said that streets on the Park estate are narrow, which will cause parking problems and see customers who drive travelk to Post Offices in Skelton or Saltburn.
During the public consultation, Post Office Ltd is inviting feedback on the proposal until February 20, by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, or by calling 08457 223344.
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