A Post Office set for closure could become part of a library.

The Post Office in Rochester - which is based within Paydens Chemist in the High Street and is the town's only Post Office - is due to close in November.

Medway Council's deputy leader, Cllr Howard Doe (Con) said he would like to see the branch relocated to the community hub at Eastgate, which hosts the town's library.

During a meeting of the regeneration, culture, and environment overview and scrutiny committee last night, he said: "I am absolutely convinced that Rochester must keep its Post Office.

"I always envisaged that we would grow the role of the community hubs and obviously we have got to look at how we do that.

"There are issues of staff transfers etc, but all that with a will can be overcome in my view and I think that we should do this.

"If, however, someone puts in a strong pitch from the commercial sector, then I think that's more questionable because we are not here to wipe the commercial sector out.

"But I think we should try to get it and I think it would be something that would draw people in and make them more inclined to look at the other services we provide and therefore, I think it will be a virtuous circle."

Last week, Medway Labour Group began a petition calling on the council to step in and facilitate a plan for an alternative location for the Post Office, favouring either the Medway Visitor Centre or the Community Hub.

The future of the branch was also talked about during a session in Parliament yesterday.

The area's MP Kelly Tolhurst raised a question about the branch's future to the minister for enterprise, markets and small business, Kevin Hollinrake.

She said: "Sadly in November this year, the long-established Post Office will be closing in my constituency due to an expansion of the pharmacy, which is a success story.

"We have had many businesses locally, including the council, who are absolutely desperate to take on a Post Office franchise.

"Will the minister meet with me in order to make sure we can secure Rochester with a Post Office after November of this year?"

Mr Hollinrake agreed to a meeting, adding: "I have suffered closures of Post Offices in my own constituency. I know how difficult this is.

"We are committed to maintaining a network of 11,500 Post Office outlets and making sure that 99% of the population is within three miles of a Post Office."