A post office will be moved half a mile away up a hill despite a petition signed by 270 residents.

There was an outcry in November when the national Post Office announced the relocation plans for its branch which is inside Costcutter in Delce Road, Rochester.

Despite protests by locals, councillors and MP Mark Reckless, the move to Spar in Maidstone Road is going ahead this month.

Regional network manager Mark Lawrence said: “There will always be some customers who are more inconvenienced than others and we can only apologise for this.”

But he insisted the move was a good thing as the new counter will be open 62 hours longer a week, including until 10pm every night. He added the current counter is only staffed by a temporary agent.

Rochester East ward councillor Teresa Murray (Lab) said: “I’m very, very disappointed. They’ve ignored the petition, the public representations and their own advice that the Delce is a really good location.”

A previous bid to move the counter to the Co-Op in Delce Road, just a few yards away, fell through.

“We have elderly residents and car ownership in that area is a third lower than the rest of my ward,” said Cllr Murray.

“They now have to go to Maidstone Road which if they can’t walk is a winding bus route.”

Rochester and Strood MP Mr Reckless said: “I’ve for some years had little confidence in these Post Office consultations because they often seem intended to justify a decision that’s already been made. My suspicion is they are a bit of a charade.”

The Delce Road post office will close on Saturday, June 29 and Maidstone Road will open on Monday, July 1.

A Post Office spokesman said the “fantastic modern premises” will safeguard its presence in Rochester.