A PROPOSAL to extend a Test Valley village post office to be open seven days a week has been welcomed.

After years of uncertainty the current Post Office in Sherfield English is to close and relocate to a caravan park.

Postal bosses want it to open at Hill Farm Caravan Park and open as a modern open-plan branch with significantly extended opening hours.

A six-week consultation has begun and bosses wnat to hear from members of the public about it.

The move has been welcomed by Test Valley Borough Councillor Nick Adams-King who said it was a “good thing” that there are intentions to extend the hours.

The current Sherfield English Postmaster has resigned and the premises at Graemar Lane are being withdrawn for Post Office use.

A Post Office spokesman said the new branch would open earlier every day and that “this would make it more convenient for customers to visit”.

Services could be delivered from an open-plan till at the convenience store’s counter throughout shop opening hours from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday,8.30am to 4pm on Saturdays and from 9am to 3pm on Sunday.

It is expected that this would be an extra 17 hours a week of service.

Sue Whittall, Regional Network Manager, said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents. We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.”

Cllr Adams-King said he expected it was to “mirror” the opening hours of the business already there.

He said: “It’s a good thing that they’re offering a wider service. It’s a bit more central in terms of being closer to Awbridge. As for the opening hours, wow, that’s much more than it’s ever been. It’s a solution which helps everybody.”

Post Office Ltd wants feedback from customers before a final decision is taken. The consultation will close on July 6.

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 on 03457 22 33 44 or Textphone 03457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views online through the quick and easy questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 244546.