HIGHWORTH Post Office will be taken on by the Midcounties Co-operative after the consultation into the proposal ended this week, according to postmaster Paul Burdett.

The Post Office’s six-week consultation into the proposed Brewery Street location and extended opening hours closed on Tuesday.

The state-owned company has said it will start reviewing the feedback received and make a decision on the branch’s future in four weeks, but the current postmaster says it is a done deal.

Mr Burdett, who runs the existing branch in Sheep Street with his wife Karen, released a statement on Facebook, which coincided with the end of the consultation.

He said he had received an official document which confirmed the Co-operative had signed a contract on taking the branch in-store. “Thank you to the people who have supported us during the uncertainty of the post office’s future,” he said.

He declined to add to his statement, while the Co-operative did not confirm it had signed anything, but accepted the post office’s likely future was at its store, but this was not official.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “The public consultation on the relocation of Highworth Post Office ended on Tuesday, March 31, and we will consider all feedback received.

“Following a public consultation we would expect to reach a decision within four weeks.

“When a decision is made we will inform customers and local representatives, and issue a press release announcing any change.”

Among the proposals, the post office would increase its opening hours at the new location by 46 and a half hours provide an open-plan retail environment and provide seven-day access to its services.

The new post office would have four serving positions, with two open-plan and one screened position which would be open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm.

There would also be a serving position at the retail counter offering post office products and services during the shop’s opening hours from 7am until 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sundays.

Will Russell, the regional network manager, said: “We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Highworth and we are confident this new modern branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.”

In November, the public blocked proposals to move the branch to the Budgens store in Swindon Road, with more than 280 responses opposing the plans.

“The modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”