THE POST Office is proposing to move Girdle Toll Post Office from its current location to create a modern open-plan branch with extended opening hours for customers.

The proposed new location for the branch is 89 Burns Crescent, Girdle Toll, Irvine, KA11 1AQ. This is just 20 metres from its current site in Burns Crescent.

The Post Office is inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments on the move in a six week public consultation.

The move is part of major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments.

The new Girdle Toll Post Office will have a Post Office serving point provided for use at the retail counter and available during shop opening hours.

Opening hours at the proposed new location would be 06:00-22:00 Monday to Saturday and 07:00-22:00 on Sunday offering customers more than 65 hours to access Post Office products and services.

Post Office Regional Network Manager for Scotland, Sue Richardson, said: "We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Girdle Toll and we are confident that this new modern branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

She added: "The proposed changes to the branch are part of a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office, that will see around 6000 branches (about half the Post Office network) converting to new-style branches. The investment marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes." The Post Office, now independent of Royal Mail, is the largest retail network in the UK, with over 11,500 branches. It is also one of the fastest growing financial services companies and is developing its online and telephony services.

During the public consultation Post Office Ltd welcomes feedback on any issues customers would like considered before a final decision is taken on this proposal. The consultation will close on 27 June 2013. Submissions can be made during the consultation by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.