FOUR Post Offices in Gwent are to be relocated and have their opening hours extended.

St Julian’s in Newport, Crumlin, East Side, Abertillery and Gilwern and Abergavenny Post Offices will all be moving premises due to new concept called Post Office Local which offers customers Post Office services alongside retail transactions during shop opening hours.

St Julian’s has already opened its new premises on Heather Road, a few doors down from the original branch, with new opening hours of 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday.

Lisa Barton, Post Office field change advisor, said: “We know how important the Post Office service is to the community and we feel sure our customers old and new will welcome the new, more modern branch along with the ability to access Post Office services alongside a broader retail offer.”

The East Side Post Office will move from Bridge Terrace, Abertillery, to Fairview Terrace, on Tillery Road which is due to open on January 20. It will be offering 67 extra hours a week, open from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 10pm on Sunday. Customers are invited to comment on a six-week consultation for the proposed plans to move Crumlin Post Office and Gilwern Post Office. The plans show Crumlin Post Office will move from Hillside to The Village Shop at Crumlin Square with proposed opening hours of 7am to 9.30pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 9pm on Sunday.

The new service for both branches will open in February 2014, subject to a successful consultation. The Gilwern Post Office will move from Main Road, Gilwern Garage, Crickhowell Road, and will offer an extra 52 hours a week to customers open all week from 7am to 9pm. The consultation will close on January 10. Comments can be made by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk or by calling 08457 223344.