COLCHESTER’S town centre post office is set to close and move into WH Smith as part of a major restructure.

When the North Hill building closes, services are planned to move to the High Street giant’s base, in Lion Walk shopping centre, where a major refurbishment is planned.

That work will see a new post office housed in a dedicated area and opening hours extended to include Sunday opening.

A six-week public consultation is planned, though no starting date has been fixed.

The post office is one of 33 across the country which is being handing over to the high street giant on a franchise basis.

As it stands WH Smith already operate 135 post offices across the UK.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “In Colchester our proposal is that the post office would be relocated into the WH Smith store at 19, Lion Walk Shopping Centre.

“There would be a major refurbishment there and the new post office would be in a dedicated area.

“Opening hours would be extended and include Sunday opening.”

She added: “Full details about the plan will be provided when we start a six week public consultation. There is no date for this yet.”

“During the consultation people will be able to provide their views online, by post (Freepost) or telephone and these will be carefully considered before we make a final decision.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “We announced a new deal with WH Smith to relocate up to 40 Post Offices into WH Smith stores in 2019, and for WH Smith to take over the running, on a franchise basis, of a further 33 Post Offices which are already sited on their premises but currently operated directly by Post Office.

“Colchester Post Office is proposed to be franchised to the nearby WHSmith store.

“We don’t yet have a confirmed date for this but any proposed changes will be subject to a public consultation where we will seek the views of our customers and local stakeholders in line with our Principles of Community Engagement.”

He added: “We’ve made significant changes in our network of 11,500 Post Offices over the past few years, modernising more than 7,500 branches and increasing opening hours for customers by more than 200,000 a week.

“We’ve also introduced new services, including essential Everyday Banking services for customers of the UK’s high street banks.

She added: “The vast majority of the post office’s network of 11,500 post office branches, large and small, are run on a franchise or agency basis with retailers as part of thriving businesses.

“We are, therefore, keen to further expand this successful, sustainable, way of providing post office services to communities across the country.”

Colchester councillor Martin Goss, who has been contacted by Post Office, said: “In a business sense, this looks like a good move for WH Smith and I hope it will drive more feet into Lion Walk and in turn help fill some empty units there.

“The only thing is, it leaves a big empty building on North Hill but it is in a prime location and I don’t think there will be any problems getting it let when it gets to market.”

Mr Goss added: "However, I cannot see it being a restaurant becasue I think people believe we have got to saturation point in the regard now."

The building is leased by the post office. 

A spokesperson for WH Smith said the firm would not comment on the plans.