A DATE has been agreed for the moving of Stow Post Office which will mean longer opening hours and a seven-day-a-week service.

The facility will move to Stow News, in The Square, on October 7 at 1pm and hours will be extended by 39 hours and 30 minutes a week.

A wide range of post office services will be available and there will be a modern open-plan retail environment.

Post Office services would be available during shop opening hours Monday to Saturday: 5am to 5:30pm and Sunday: 5am to 4pm.

During the consultation process it was decided this would be a local plus branch instead of a local branch. This means there are enhanced local services including manual banking (non-barcoded transactions), Transcash, and Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide International parcels. Also payment by cheque is still accepted.

The current branch at Sheep Street, Stow, will close on Tuesday October 6 at 5.30pm and will move 100 metres. This move is with the agreement of current Postmaster Gillian James, who wants to retire after 18 years in the role.

During this brief transfer an alternative office is available in Bourton high street.

Post Office regional network manager Will Russell, said: “We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Stow and we are confident this new modern post office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”