A new chapter may be on the way for the Inverness Post Office as proposals are unveiled to move the branch to a newly refurbished Co-op store just a few steps from its current home.
Post Office Limited has announced a public consultation on relocating the busy city centre branch from Queensgate to the nearby Co-operative Food store at 59 Church Street.
If approved, the move would see Inverness Post Office become part of a national partnership between the Post Office and Co-op, with over 200 branches already operating successfully inside Co-op stores across the UK.
The new site is just 80 metres from the existing branch and will offer the same wide range of services from a dedicated space with three service counters.
Opening hours would remain Monday to Saturday, with the new site opening slightly earlier on Tuesdays than it currently does, providing 46 hours of Post Office services each week.
The Co-op location is already familiar to many and offers useful features such as an ATM, nearby pay-and-display parking, and local bus connections, including a disabled parking bay directly opposite the store.
Importantly, the Church Street Co-op is preparing for a major refurbishment programme that will transform the store and relaunch it with a fresh new look at the end of October.
The Post Office area will be located to the left of the store and clearly signed for customers.
Post Office Limited says the move is part of its wider shift to a fully franchised model, which it believes offers long-term sustainability for branches across the country, including in Inverness.
The move would also support its “New Deal for Postmasters”, with assurances that all current staff will have the opportunity to transfer under TUPE arrangements to continue their roles at the new location.
Councillors, community groups and local residents are now being invited to take part in the public consultation, which runs from 20 August until 1 October.
Feedback can be submitted in several ways, including online at postofficeviews.co.uk using branch code 002840, by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, to FREEPOST, YOUR COMMENTS, or by phone on 03452 66 01 15.
This is more than just a change of address.
It’s about securing the future of local services in a way that reflects the needs of today’s communities, with customer experience, access and long-term viability all at its heart.
