A PROSPECTIVE councillor has labelled plans to relocate Fernhill Heath post office “a death trap in waiting”.

Nigel Addison, an Independent candidate in the upcoming parish and district council elections, fears moving the post office to the Mace Store in Droitwich Road, which is opposite the current site, will create traffic and safety issues.

He believes concerns about “serious highways problems” – which residents voiced about the nearby conversion of the village’s Halfway House pub into a Spar shop - apply to the post office switch as well.

Post Office Limited however is confident the relocation will "meet the needs of the local community" but will "consider all feedback" before making a final decision.

Mr Addison said: “What makes this situation worse is that the majority of the post office’s customers will come from the Station Road and Dilmore end of the village, which means that vehicles visiting the shop will have to cross oncoming traffic from the Droitwich direction.

“This can be horrendous at anytime but is heightened when for any reason the M5 motorway has to close between Droitwich and Worcester.

“Inevitably this will cause tailbacks behind these vehicles and will subsequently block the pelican crossing - a vital tool for children and elderly people crossing the road.

“Cars visiting the current post office do not need to cross the traffic.

“Another concern is that there are only a small number of spaces for parking outside the Mace Store and these will have to reverse onto O’Keys Lane at some point.

“The Fernhill Heath Baptist Church have already expressed their fears for the safety of the many groups using the building, which is also on O’Keys Lane - a road which has no footpath - such as the over-60s, mums and toddlers, worshippers and even the parish council which meets on these premises.

“Because of the post office’s longer opening hours groups using the church at night could be affected and the early start will have a significant impact on children going to school.

“On top of that residents in the lane already have problems with people parking up outside their homes when visiting the shop premises, which again could be exacerbated.”

Mr Addison added that other concerns included increased numbers of delivery vans and collection vehicles and the loss of some post office services such as the ability to obtain change.

Post Office Limited however believes the new “modern, open-plan, local-style branch” will “meet the needs of the local community".

At the new location post office services would be available from a till at the shop counter instead of from a separate screened counter, opening for 73 hours and 30 minutes longer each week than current provision.

Will Russell, regional manager for Post Office Limited, said: “We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Fernhill Heath and we are confident that this new modern post office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the post office, and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

If the move go ahead, the branch would open from 5am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 6am to 9pm on Sunday.

The proposed switch is part of a major 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”.

Members of the public are being invited to submit their opinions on the plans by Wednesday, May 27, by writing to Freepost Your Comments, Post Office Ltd, by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, or by calling 08457 223344.

A spokesman for Post Office Limited added: "The public consultation on the relocation of Fernhill Heath post office ends on Wednesday, May 27, and we will considering 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.”

Mr Addison is encouraging members of the public to make up their own minds and respond to the public consultation.