Post Office make public where axe will fall as 'consultation' ends.
Dozens of post offices in Hampshire will close from next month, it was announced this morning.
The Post Office announced its decision to close 61 of its 291 full-time sub post offices in rural and urban areas of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
While there are closures in the new Winchester constituency, the area has escaped the kind of cull seen elsewhere in the county. The decision follows a six-week public consultation, which ended in November 2007. Details of local branches are as follows:
- Shawford Post Office, which was a part-time service already, will close in February 2008.
- Littleton Post Office was earmarked for closure but local opposition has led to a three-month reprieve for this branch while further discussions take place with the Parish Council.
- Micheldever Post Office was noted for replacement with an outreach service (which can mean a mobile van visiting the area once a week) but changes to this branch are subject to further discussions with local councillors and members of the Post Office team.
- Chandler’s Ford Post Office (in Bournemouth Road) is marked for closure but no changes will be made until further local discussions take place and the future of PO services in Fryern Hill are clear.
Prospective Winchester MP, Steve Brine said: "I'm pleased the Post Office have their ears half open in that they have granted Littleton a reprieve. We now need to move forward and make the case for its long-term survival. This whole process however, is very sad and as I have said all along the Government should be presiding over a thriving Post Office network instead of managing its decline."
CAMPAIGN LINKS
You can see the story and the full list of Hampshire branches that will close on The Daily Echo website here.
You can visit our Post Office campaign page on this website here.