A POST office in Sheerness could close in the summer if islanders back proposals.

The family-run High Street East branch will be closed permanently in August if the public agree as part of local changes which, the Post Office says, are designed to safeguard the future of other post office branches in the area.

The Post Office announced last year that it intended to undertake a programme to restructure and modernise its national network of more than 9,000 urban Post Offices branches. They believe that in many cities and towns there are simply too many branches competing for too little business.

Following a preference exercise during which subpostmasters across the country were asked to indicate their wishes for the future, the business has agreed with the subpostmaster of High Street East that his branch should close in August 2003.

Drew McBride, head of area, said: "We have concluded that if High Street East branch were to close, it would improve the long-term prospects of the other branches in the area. We have made sure that Sheerness Post Office branch, 33 The Broadway and Queensway Post Office branch, 1 Queens Parade would be fully geared up to cope with extra customers should the closure go ahead."

But officials want to know the views of the public before a final decision is made. No decision will be taken until they have considered all views.

Write to National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans AL1 5XN by Tuesday, June 24, to voice any concerns of worries.