Alston post office on the move?

ALSTON’S Post Office counter service could be on the move next door, a parish council meeting has been told.

It is being proposed that town’s Post Office counter service will relocate into the vacant premises which was The Crown, in Front Street, while the sorting office would move to Brampton, along with Alston Moor’s Royal Mail staff.

This is expected to happen in February, 2020. It is hoped that parcels can still be collected from Alston, but that is yet to be confirmed, parish councillors were told.

County councillor Claire Driver (Lab, Alston and East Fellside) said that Alston was fortunate to be retaining its counter service considering the amount of towns and villages across the country that were losing theirs.

Consultation with the public is now underway and people have until 22nd November to make their views known.

A Post Office spokesman said: “We are proposing to move the above Post Office branch to a new location — The Crown, Front Street, Alston, CA9 3HR, and change to one of our new-look local style branches.

“We’re proposing this move as part of the ongoing modernisation of our branch network. We are confident that introducing a local style branch alongside The Crown is the most effective way to safeguard sustainable Post Office services in the local community into the future.

“The new premises, which are currently empty, will undergo a full refurbishment to incorporate a confectionery and stationery retail store and Alston Post Office.”

It is envisaged that customers will be able to access Post Office services at a low-screened, open-plan, modern serving point that’s part of the retail counter.

The branch will offer a wide range of Post Office products and services over longer opening hours, so customers can access their Post Office when it’s convenient. For further information and to let Royal Mail have people’s views visit https://bit.ly/32jtMEN