As reported in the Advertiser, Helensburgh’s post office will relocate from 18 Colquhoun Square to 92-94 West Princes Street – less than 500 metres away – if plans unveiled by the company get the green light.

At Helensburgh Community Council last week Post Office representatives Linda Boner and Julie Frizzle told community councillors that modernisation plans will feature a main-style open-plan branch with extended opening hours for customers.

Ms Boner said: “The new premises would be bigger, better, and more modern.” The project is part of a wider initiative by the company to modernise premises at several branches.

At last Thursday’s meeting, the audience also heard that although there is a bus stop close to the site, the nearest car park is more than 50 metres away – contrary to information released previously. In the future there may be one or two car parking spots located outside the premises for disabled parking or drop offs.

The new premises will be housed alongside a convenience store run by a self employed businessman.

The owner will be expected to work with the Post Office to meet its regulations and service expectations, and the company will conduct spot checks and send mystery shoppers to the site to ensure regulations are complied with.

In terms of staffing, the new operator does not have any ‘obligation’ to hire the staff from the current Post Office site, however community councillors and company representatives noted it would be beneficial to make use of their experience and expertise as well as having a ‘moral responsibility’.

The proposed new location – in the old Rowatts Furnishings shop – would have four serving positions: a mixture of two open plan and one traditional screened counter positions, together with a Post Office serving point at the retail counter.

Ms Boner added that the retail counter can be used for ‘fast transactions’ such as buying stamps, whilst passport checks would be done at the main Post Office counter.

She added: “The retail area and the Post Office will work together. It is thought about 95 per cent of the transactions can be done at the till.” At present, the post office is open 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm Saturday and closed on a Sunday.

The post office opening hours at the proposed new location would be 8am to 7.30pm Monday to Friday; 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, offering customers an extra 27 and a half hours of access.

It was suggested by a member of the audience that they had already seen some work done on the site, however the Post Office representatives said this was perhaps in relation to the retail space, but not the Post Office.

Ms Boner added: “No decisions will be made until we hear from the public consultation.” The six-week consultation will run until March 21, with a view to move in May 2014.

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 08457 22 33 44 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views online through the quick and easy questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 130817.