AN East End community who petitioned to save a post office from closure has been told the service could relocate into a shop, which may put jobs at risk.

The Post Office is proposing to move Duke Street Post Office in Dennistoun to a vacant retail premises.

The Evening Times previously reported on the petition to keep the Duke Street Post Office branch open at Annfield Place. More than 800 residents put their name to the campaign to prevent the facility from being closed.

Now the Post Office propose to move the branch into a vacant retail premises, which was previously Market Gallery, on Duke Street.

Under the plans, the service would be run by Christopher Allan alongside a newsagents.

It is also proposed that the new branch, which would have four serving positions, will have longer opening hours including Saturday afternoons.

It is hoped the new branch would begin operating in April.

But the move has concerned MP Paul Sweeney who is worried the plans would put six jobs at risk.

He said: "It is reassuring that there is a long term future for the Post Office on Duke Street, including an extension to its opening hours, as it had been a long standing concern of local residents and the Dennistoun Community Council that this vital service would be closed altogether."

He added: "I am concerned, however, that the move from a standalone Post Office into franchise within a nearby retail unit may put at risk the six jobs in the current Post Office. I will therefore be seeking assurances that any job losses are minimised and, if jobs are lost, they are suitably compensated."

The Westminster politician also said he would continue to review the current status of Post Offices in his constituency.

He said: "I am also continuing to review the advertised sale of the Post Office franchise at Springburn Shopping Centre and efforts to find a buyer for the currently closed Post Office franchise in Millerston with the Post Office Ltd."

Roger Gale, Post Offices’ Network and Sales Director, said that the proposal for Duke Street Post Office branch would help secure long-term viability of services for local customers.

He said: "We are making sure we take the right action to sustain services for years to come.

"The vast majority of our 11,600 Post Office branches, large and small, are successfully operated with retail partners – this is the best approach to keeping branches in main shopping locations and at the heart of communities."

The Post Office is inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments on the proposed move in a six-week public consultation.

During the public consultation, which ends on 21 February 2018, the Post Office welcomes feedback on factors such as the location, the proposed premises, accessibility or community issues that customers would like considered before a final decision is made on the proposal.

Customers can provide views during the consultation by e-mail comments@postoffice.co.uk or 03457 22 33 44 (Textphone 03457 22 33 55).