People are being urged to have their say in a consultation on the proposed relocation of Melksham Post Office.

The Post Office has invited interested parties to comment in a public consultation that ends on January 20.

It will also hold a customer forum at the Kings Arms, in the Market Place, on January 9, from 4.30pm to 8.30pm.

The proposed location for the branch is 6-8 Bank Street, in the old Carpet Barn store. It will be run by Crabb and Andrews Retail, which sells greeting cards, stationery and confectionery at two Post Office shops in Bristol.

Town councillor Jon Hubbard, the Wiltshire Council member for Melksham South, said: “I am urging people to  take part in the consultation and forum. As chair of the Area Board, I have invited Laura Tarling of the Post Office to the next Area Board meeting.

“We have to be realistic that Post Offices are closing, but I am sceptical. What happens if the company goes out of business?” The intention of the forum is to give details of the proposed move to an open-plan branch with extended opening hours.

Subject to public consultation, the new Post Office would have four serving positions and open 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday – an increase of 14 hours a week.

The Post Office said there would be no compulsory redundancies, with options for transfer to the new employer or redeployment within the Post Office.

Mr Hubbard said: “We need an interpretation of what a compulsory redundancy is. I would prefer to hear the Post Office say there will be no redundancies.”

Melksham Area Board meets at the Assembly Hall on Wednesday, at 7pm.

  • Trowbridge’s main post office, in Roundstone Street, will open for six more hours a week up to Christmas: 8.30am-6pm on weekdays, 9am-1.30pm on Saturdays.