Maiden Place Consultation by Post Office

I reproduce below for constituents’ benefit the consultation letter I have received from the Post Office about the future Maiden Place Post Office. The Post Office letter below explains the proposal and how to send in your views on it through the Post Office website:

“Maiden Place Post Office®
Unit 11, Maiden Place, Lower Earley, Reading, RG6 3HA
Proposed move to new premises & branch modernisation
I’m writing to let you know that we are proposing to move the above Post Office branch to a new location – Petfayre, 1 Maiden Place, Lower Earley, Reading, RG6 3HD. I am also pleased to tell you that, if the move goes ahead, it will change to one of our new local style branches.
Maiden Place branch closed temporarily in April 2013. We are now able to restore the service and I am therefore, pleased to inform you that a new operator has been appointed, providing us with the opportunity to incorporate Post Office services into their existing Pet Accessories store, located approximately 60 metres from the previous branch. The establishment of a Post Office local service presents the best possible solution to allow us to restore Post Office services to our customers in the area.
This change is part of a major programme of modernisation and investment taking place across the Post Office network, the largest in the history of Post Office Ltd, which will see up to 8,000 branches modernised and additional investment in over 3,000 community and outreach branches. The programme is underpinned by Government investment, with the Government committing £1.34bn in 2010 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network and in November 2013 announcing a further £640m investment in the Post Office network until 2018.
What will this mean for customers?
 Post Office services will be offered from a till on the retail counter in a modern open plan branch
 Longer opening hours
 A wide range of Post Office products and services will still be available
Consulting on the proposed new location
We’re now starting a 6 week local public consultation and would like you to tell us what you think about the suitability of the proposed new location. Before we finalise our plans, we would really like to hear your views on the proposed location, particularly on the following areas:
 How suitable do you think the new location and premises are and how easy it is to get there?
 Are the new premises easy for you to get into and is the inside easily accessible?
 Do you have any concerns about the new location?
 If so, do you have any suggestions that could help us make it better for you?
 Are there any local community issues which you think could be affected by the proposed move?
 Is there anything you particularly like about the proposed change?
I’ve enclosed an information sheet that provides more details about the new location and the range of products that will be available. If you have any comments or questions, please email or write to me via our Communication and Consultation team, whose contact details are below. Please note that your comments will not be kept confidential unless you expressly ask us to do so by clearly marking them “In Confidence”. Any information we receive will be considered as we finalise our plans for the new branch. Other people in your organisation may be interested in this proposal, so please let them know about it.
You can share your views on the proposed move through our easy and convenient new online questionnaire via the link below. When entering the site you will be asked to enter the code for this branch: 23893999
postofficeviews.co.uk
Dates for local public consultation:
Local Public Consultation starts
11 November 2014
Local Public Consultation ends
23 December 2014
Proposed month of change
February 2015
I’ve included information about the Code of Practice over the page and copies of the Code will also be available in branch.
Thank you for considering our proposal. At the end of the consultation I’ll be in touch again to let you know our final plans.
Yours sincerely
Julia Marwood
Regional Network Manager
How to contact us:
Please note this is the full address to use and no further address details are required
Items sent by Freepost take 2 working days to arrive. Therefore, responses by Freepost should be sent in sufficient time to arrive before the end of the consultation period. Working days do not include Saturdays or Sundays. Responses received after the deadline will not be considered.
 postofficeviews.co.uk  comments@postoffice.co.uk  Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44 Textphone: 08457 22 33 55  FREEPOST Your CommentsWant to tell us what you think right here and now – scan here If you don’t have a QR code scanner on your phone, you can find one in your app store.
Post Office Ltd can provide information and receive comments (where appropriate) in alternative formats, for example, to assist the visually impaired. To obtain further specific information, please contact the Customer Helpline on 08457 22 33 44.
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Maiden Place Post Office information sheet
Address
Petfayre
1 Maiden Place
Lower Earley
Reading
RG6 3HD
Post Office opening hours
Mon
08:30 – 17:30
Tue
08:30 – 17:30
Wed
08:30 – 17:30
Thu
08:30 – 17:30
Fri
08:30 – 17:30
Sat
08:30 – 17:30
Sun
Closed
Distance
60 metres, away from the previous branch, along level terrain.
Accessibility &
accessibility works
Access and facilities
Access will be level with a wide door entrance. Internally, there would be a hearing loop and space for a wheelchair.
Parking
Large free car park within 90 metres from the branch, with four dedicated disabled spaces.
Retail
Pet Accessories store