THE Post Office has confirmed that it will close and move into the back of WH Smith later this year.

Plans to move the post office from its current location in the Old Market Place were revealed in May, followed by a six-week public consultation.

Warrington Borough Council held talks with Post Office bosses in an attempt to save the branch, but it has now been confirmed that it will close later this year.

The post office will shut its doors for good on Wednesday October 5 after decades of operating from the Fish Market, with the new store 250m away at the rear of the Golden Square Shopping Centre branch of WH Smith opening the following day.

Roger Gale, general manager for the Post Office’s crown branch network, said that the changes would help to ensure branch was ‘commercially viable’ and ‘protect Post Office services on which customers depend’.

He added: “Our customers’ needs continue to change and we are responding to that, taking the right action to sustain our services for years to come.

“We are committed to remaining on high streets and at the heart of communities and we are making changes right across our network to enable us to do so.

“We believe the WH Smith premises will provide an excellent host location for the new crown post office – the service will still be run by us and you’ll be served by the same branch team.

“The WH Smith retail offer will complement the wide range of Post Office products and services, which will continue to be available following the move.”

When opened, the WH Smith incarnation of the post office will feature seven counters and four self-service kiosks and will ‘continue to provide the wide range of services’ it currently offers with the exception of a cash machine.

The Post Office hopes that it will be able to provide a cash machine at a later date subject to relevant permissions.

Meanwhile, proposals to turn the Old Market Place branch into a restaurant have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council’s planning department.

Council leader Terry O’Neill and chief executive Steven Broomhead will oppose the plans - Mr Broomhead has also written to Mr Gale to remind him that any move would be subject to the council granting planning permission.

A consultation on the restaurant planning application runs until Wednesday August 31.