IN LESS than a month's time, Poole's historic town centre post office will close its doors for the last time.

A date has now been set for the controversial relocation to WH Smith, 200 yards down the High Street.

The existing branch on the High Street will close at 5.30pm on Wednesday, November 14, and open in its new home at 9am the following morning.

There will be six serving positions in the redesigned WH Smith, with level access to the store and two sets of entrance doors.

Despite fears services would be reduced in the move, the Post Office maintains all the usual services will able available, including banking, car tax and a bureau de change.

The post office will be open from 9am to 5.30pm.

In April, the Post Office announced that 70 branches across the country would be absorbed into WH Smith stores.

It is, they insist, a necessary measure as they seek to stem heavy losses.

WH Smith area manager Debbie Lansdown said: "At a time when so many branches face an uncertain future, this is good news for Post Office customers in Poole."

She added the performance of the relocated branch would be carefully monitored.

The Post Office says it listened to representations and issues raised by customers, politicians and Postwatch before finalising its plans.

Following the announcement in April, public protests were organised in Poole town centre, with councillors and residents waving banners and collecting names on a petition.

The decision to close both the Poole High Street branch and Bournemouth's town centre Post Office was branded "brainless" and "ridiculous" by councillors.

But Post Office Ltd's Mike Dalton said: "At a time when Post Office Ltd is losing £4 million a week, partnerships such as these enable us to go on offering post office services in the heart of the town."