The blueprints for Melksham’s new Post Office have been displayed to the public, ahead of its proposed relocation.

The current office on Church Street is due to be closed, with a brand new Post Office built at the former Carpet Barn store on the High Street, which will be partly operated as a card and stationery shop.

A public consultation is currently under way, and, if approved, the new Post Office is due to open in March.

The Post Office will be operated by Crabb and Andrews Limited, a Bristol-based firm which operates a number of Post Offices across the south west.

Representatives of the Post Office were on hand at The King’s Arms on Thursday last week to discuss the plans with residents.

Senior stakeholder manager Laura Tarling said: “Crabb and Andrews are very experienced postmasters, with a lot of family history in running Post Offices.

“We’ve gone through a robust financial assessment with them to make sure the business they are proposing is sustainable.”

The proposed Post Office will contain three open-plan counters, and one partitioned behind a glass screen, and will offer all the same services as the current branch.

It has been designed to be fully wheelchair-accessible, with automatic doors and an additional lowered counter, with the rest of the premises dedicated to retail space.

Ms Tarling said: “We have had a lot of people come in with a wide variety of questions, and to find out more about the plans.

“When we make the decision we will give a summary as part of the response, which will highlight the most common issues people have raised.

“We have already had a lot of feedback but we would still like people to contribute to the consultation.”

Public comments can be submitted at www.postofficeviews. co.uk, before the consultation period closes on January 20.