A second bid to turn a post office into a restaurant has been submitted to the council.

At the end of July, Oakbridge Homes Ltd submitted an application to convert the post office in Station Road, Harpenden, into a restaurant but withdrew their bid when the consultation period ended.

The withdrawal was a result of St Albans council requesting more information surrounding the post office’s plans to relocate.

The post office has since confirmed that they will be moving into a nearby WHSmith store in the High Street and a second application has now been put forward. Consultation ends next Wednesday, October 19.

A spokesperson for the agent, DLA Town Planning, said: “The post office has given notice that it will move out of the premises.

“The current proposal is to make the best use of the building once vacant.”

Ron Taylor, of the Harpenden Society, believes that the change could bring “additional footfall” into Station Road.

He said: “The Harpenden Society hasn’t discussed this at any length at the moment, though my personal view is that it’s better that the premises be used as a positive premise to attract people to the road.

“The post office attracted day-to-day visitors and so shop owners benefited.”

He added: “One of the few sectors doing well in the town is restaurants and so one of the growth areas is the restaurant business.

“By encouraging more people into the road this could make them aware of what other options are available, which would be to the benefit of other retailers.”

The Harpenden Post Office branch will franchise with WHSmith and the move is set to provide customers with an extra nine and a half hours of service a week.