WHITCHURCH is set to lose its delivery office and transfer operations to Basingstoke following an announcement from Royal Mail.

North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young has been in touch with Royal Mail following its announcement.

“This decision appears to have been taken without any consultation with those involved, and it gives no indication of how much money might be saved, and what the impact will be on the quality of service,” he said. “The last time they looked at this option it was abandoned because of the public protest.

“At that time some of the postmen lived in Whitchurch, and they would have had to drive to Basingstoke to do the sorting, then come back to Whitchurch to do the delivery. Also the arrangement for collecting registered mail or parcels is not nearly as satisfactory as being able to collect the items from the Whitchurch delivery office.

“While I was pleased to hear there won’t be any compulsory redundancies, I think there are many questions that need to be asked before this should go ahead.”

Whitchurch borough councillor Keith Watts said: “Four years ago we defeated just such a proposal with a fierce all-party campaign. I can promise another fierce campaign against the latest proposal.

“Closure of the Whitchurch local delivery office will mean that people in Whitchurch, Overton and surrounds whose mail cannot be delivered have to go all the way to Priestly Road, north of Basingstoke, to collect undelivered items.

“This also means that mail for delivery in this area will be driven in separate small vans from Basingstoke.

“Locally-based postal staff will have to drive into Basingstoke before starting work. This fuel inefficiency will contribute to global warming.”

Former depot employee Stuart Cheese said: “They apparently had a visitation from management and were told they were closing it down in six weeks.

“They will be put on travel expenses for a while, and they prepare all their rounds before they have to come back here. But what about the old lady who is 97, and now has to go all the way to Basingstoke if she misses the post?”