A town’s Post Office has been told it will get a new permanent home at long last.

Postal services in Tonbridge have been operating out of a “pop-up” site based at a 13th century castle since last year following the loss of its last base at WHSmith.

But now a new unit will be created for the public facility based at 13 Quarry Hill Road, in premises formerly occupied by picture framing shop, Arcadia.

The shop is just a few doors along from supermarket Lidl, and while it is not on the high street there is a bus stop outside and access to the Waterloo Road car park.

Similar products and services will continue to be available including passport services, on demand travel money and travel insurance.

The new “eco products” store is currently being fitted out and is scheduled to open on Wednesday, January 3 at 1pm.

The Post Office’s last permanent home – within WHSmith’s – was lost in July last year.

Since then it has been temporarily based at Tonbridge Castle where it will continue to provide services until the new branch opens next year.

In January talks had begun between the postal company and the owner of the unit which previously housed The Beer Seller in the high street but no agreement could be made.

Its temporary home at the Castle Gateway – provided for by the council – has been plagued with staffing shortages and wi-fi problems which have several times resulted in its temporary closure.

An experienced postmaster, who has been operating the interim branch will also now open the permanent branch, it has been confirmed.

The new opening hours will be Monday to Saturday: 9 – 5.30pm.

This will amount to an extra 18.5 hours of services a week for customers, including all-day Saturday, earlier opening and later closing.

Emily Clive, Post Office network provision lead said: “We are delighted that there will soon be a permanent Post Office in Tonbridge again and with longer opening hours.

“In the meantime the temporary Post Office will continue to operate at Tonbridge Castle Gateway until the new location is ready.

“We want to sincerely thank Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council for providing the temporary location, which allowed us to maintain the Post Office service to the community.”

Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, who had intervened previously, said: “We all know that this has taken much longer than anybody expected.

“However, I am pleased that we will finally have a permanent presence back in the centre of Tonbridge.”

“I know that everybody would have loved this site to be open for Christmas, but until the new opening, post office services will continue to operate from the temporary venue at the castle.”