PLANS have been revealed to close Bolton town centre's post office and open a new one in a nearby retail unit.

The proposal is to close the branch in Deansgate and open a new one in the shop at 12 Oxford Street.

The Post Office hopes the creation of the new branch will secure services for the future in the town. It could open as early as August this year.

The 15 staff currently employed at the town centre branch will have their options discussed with them on an individual basis and this may include redeployment, voluntary settlement or transfer of employment to the franchisee.

The new branch would be run on a franchise basis alongside a retail unit selling confectionery and newspapers.

The move is being made because the current branch is deemed not sustainable for the future and the majority of post offices are run as franchises or on an agency basis alongside shops.

It would be operated on a franchise basis with retail partner Boltonn Ltd.

Opening hours would be 'significantly extended', The Post Office said and services would be available from 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am until 6pm on Saturday and 11am until 4m on Sunday.

This would mean services are available to customers for an extra 13.5 hours a week.

The public now has a chance to have a say on the plans with a consultation running until May 11.

During the public consultation, people are being asked for feedback on factors such as the location, the proposed premises, accessibility or community issues that customers would like considered before a final decision is made.

Roger Gale, Post Office’s network and sales director, said that the proposal for Bolton branch would help secure long-term viability of services.

He said: "We are making sure we take the right action to sustain services for years to come."

The new post office would feature low-level counters, PIN pads, hearing loops and customer seating and services would remain unchanged.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, urged people to take part in the consultation.

She said: "Whenever I have been to the main post office, it has always been extremely busy and I am very concerned that the proposed new premises may not be able to cope with the large number of people who use the services.

"It is vital that the number of services is not reduced, and I would encourage Bolton residents to take part in the consultation.”

The building in Deansgate is owned by the Jersey-registered Makan Investments Limited and rented to the Royal Mail.

Makan Investments Limited bought the building for £2.15 million in 2006.

To have your say go to www.postofficeviews.co.uk, email comments@postoffice.co.uk, call 03457 22 33 44 or text 03457 22 33 55.