THE Post Office in the Top of The Town is set to close despite strong opposition to the proposal.

As previously reported in the The Gazette, the Post Office had proposed to move the London Road facility into the WH Smith store in The Malls.

Despite residents and civic leaders raising concerns that the changes would lead to a loss of footfall in the Top of The Town, the Post Office has taken the decision to go ahead with its planned move.

A consultation was held for residents to give their views on the proposals, while there was a protest held by the Basingstoke Constituency Labour Party (CLP) and Communication Workers Union (CWU) objecting the proposals.

But, the Post Office said that after reviewing the public consultation that it would proceed with the relocation process.

The current Top of The Town facility will remain open conducting normal service until April 3, with the WH Smith office becoming operational from 9am on Thursday, 4 April.

According to The Post Office, this move will lead to wider range of products and services being made available to customers at the new store.

However, when previously speaking to The Gazette about the prosed changes, Basingstoke MP Maria Miller said moving the site from London Road would “adversely impact the Top of the Town.”

As part of the announcement to open the new modern “open-plan branch” the Post Office said customers in Basingstoke will be able to deposit and withdraw cash, as well as check their balance, over the counter at the branch, during all the extended opening hours.

Roger Gale, network and sales director at the Post Office, said that the change would help to ensure the branch is commercially viable into the future and therefore protect Post Office services on which customers in the area depend.

He said: “The Post Office is committed to keeping our services at the heart of communities which we know is hugely important to people.

“This change means we can continue to do that, into the future. We are making sure we take the right action to sustain services for years to come.”

Once open, the new store’s opening hours will be from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and for Sundays it will open from 10.30am to 2.30pm.