Around 150 residents tonight (Thursday March 6) fired questions at bosses from WH Smith and the Post Office regarding the relocation of the Winchester Crown Post Office in May.

The Town Forum meeting was held in Winchester Guildhall as part of the consultation process regarding the move.

The decision to relocate the Crown Post Office from its Middle Brook Street base has already been made by the Post Office for financial reasons, but residents had a chance to air grievances and make suggestions.

Many expressed concerns regarding queuing, how people with pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters would have access and be accommodated, and where delivery vans would go and what impact they would have on congestion.

Ian Haywood represented WH Smith and Peter Mylchreest represented Post Office Ltd.

The key points they made were that WH Smith will not close while refurbishment takes place to accommodate the Post Office.

Most services available in the Post Office now, including being able to buy foreign currency and financial transactions, will remain.

Customers will be able to use a side entrance in Parchment Street as well as the front entrance in the High Street.

The Middle Brook Street Post Office will close at 5.30pm on Wednesday May 21 and re-open in WH Smith at 9am on Thursday May 22, if all goes to plan, said Mr Mylchreest.

When the Post Office relocates to WH Smith it will be open for longer, opening at 9am on Tuesdays and remaining open until 5.30pm on Saturdays.

Mr Mylchreest said regarding access and the move that the new site for the Post Office will be as easy to access as the old one.

He said: "It is not the only store in that location. You just have to go a bit further from the Post Office to WH Smiths. The Shop Mobility people have to get to the Shop Mobility site to get a scooter so getting up the hill is not a problem.

"I don't doubt that the extra 400 yards will be difficult for some people but they can use some of the sub Post Offices. We closed the very small Post Offices with an alternative close to them.

"All of the aisles meet the minimum standards of the Disability Discrimination Act."

However, some people at the meeting remained sceptical whether a double buggy or two scooters would be able to pass each other in the queue.

Others feared the queue from the Post Office would spill over into the WH Smith store.

Mr Mylchreest explained that there would be seven Post Office counters and, should there be a need, all would be staffed in an attempt to reduce queues.

He added that seating would be available.

Mr Haywood and Mr Mylchreest said they would be working with the city council to arrange signs to be put around the city directing people to the new location of the Post Office.

The post boxes outside the Middle Brook Street Site would remain at least until the Silver Hill development started they added.

Cllr Eileen Berry, who represents St Barnabas ward, said: "Let's not be too critical. If we don't have this then we will say goodbye to the Post Office all together, what would we rather have?"

The consultation period runs until Thursday March 27.

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