AN open invitation has been issued to traders and residents to join the celebrations in Haslewey community centre to mark the eagerly awaited re-opening of Wey Hill post office next month.

The new branch at Haslewey replaces the Lion Green post office, which had been serving the community for more than 100 years, but was closed in 2016 when M&S took over the site formerly occupied by the Co-Op, where it was housed.

Customers at the Haslewey branch will be greeted by an old friend at at noon on Tuesday, March 20.

The post office manager will be Stephen Moss, who ran the Lion Green branch in the Co-op and joins the new branch from Haslemere Post Office, in West Street.

Haslewey vice-chairman Ken Griffiths said: “Perhaps we can truly say ‘Power to the People’. The trustees and staff would like to invite our residents and businesses, to join us to celebrate the success of this project.

“The opening of this community facility has only been made possible by the generosity of so many residents and organisations of Haslemere and the surrounding district, who made individual donations, corporate donations, and raised the money required through coffee mornings, raffles, musical evenings, and community events.

“The trustees and staff at Haslewey very much see this as your post office and something for Haslemere as a town – perhaps more especially for residents and businesses alike, to take a personal pride in helping to deliver it.”

The branch will be open 8.30pm-6pm, Monday to Friday, and will offer banking services and sell stationary and cards. It hopes to expand to offer fair trade products in the future.

•Because the Lion Green branch closed temporarily, the Post Office is officially required to conduct a further public consultation to get feedback on the location and opening hours.

Submissions can be made up until March 21 by Freepost Your Comments to Post Office Ltd or by calling 0345 722 3344 (textphone 0345 722 3355.

You can also send an email to comments @postoffice.co.uk