TOWN mayor Malcolm Carter has given a cautious welcome to a stay of execution for Haslemere Post Office after it was threatened with closure.

Following further talks and the intervention of Haslemere MP Jeremy Hunt, the Post Office has announced the lease on the West Street branch has been extended for nine months – and it will now remain open until next April.

While welcoming the 11th hour reprieve, Mr Carter said he would “only be happy” when a permanent solution is agreed.

He said: “I am delighted to hear the Post Office has extended its current lease. This town needs a post office for its residents, businesses and visitors.

“The demise of banking facilities in the town adds a further necessity as they are now often directed to use the post office for basic banking requirements.”

Announcing the extension to April 2018, the Post Office said: “This allows us to safeguard services in Haslemere whilst we try to find a permanent solution. The branch is currently run by a temporary postmaster and we are looking for a long-term solution.”

Network operations area manager Michael Brennan added: “We are committed to maintaining a post office in Haslemere. The permanent vacancy is currently being advertised on our website www.runapostoffice.co.uk.”

Mr Hunt said this week: “This is really good news and I am very pleased our campaign has had its first major victory with a sensible interim solution.

“This now buys us critical time to find a long-term solution which it is vital.”

Ex-town mayor Brian Howard has put forward a plan for like-minded supporters to club together and buy the Post Office building to secure its long term future.

Meanwhile plans are progressing to open a community post office later this year at Hasleway Community Centre in Wey Hill, whose deputy chairman Ken Griffiths hopes it will be possible to launch the new facility in November to replace the former Lion Green branch.

• The Post Office has announced a proposed move for Fernhurst post office and opened a six-week consultation on plans to relocate it to the electrical shop of Dudman-Ward in Vann Road.

Threatened with closure in September, the proposal is likely to be greeted with sighs of relief by villagers, who faced long journeys to an alternative post office.

The relocation, which would be with the current postmaster’s agreement, would be part of a major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments, the Post Office said in a statement this week.

Regional network manager Suzanne Richardson said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to residents.

“We are confident that this vibrant new-style post office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.”

The Post Office public consultation runs until August 9. Submissions can be made during the consultation by writing to Freepost, Your Comments to Post Office, or by calling the helpline on 0345 722 3344 (textphone 0345 722 3355).