RESIDENTS of a Hampshire market town have become concerned for the future of the town's Post Office, starting petitions and posting on Facebook groups, after rumours began about its possible downsizing. 

However, the Co-op, where the Post Office is located, in Wickham Square, has now moved to say that it has no plans to change or downsize its Post Office facilities.

In a post on Facebook, the Wickham Co-op said: “We want to reassure our customers that we have no plans to remove the separate Post Office secure section in store.

"It's important that we do everything we can so our stores serve their local communities effectively so we're currently talking with our colleagues about roles which will cover both store and Post Office duties.

“This will hopefully ensure there are more colleagues available to cover the Post Office duties throughout the day - including in the separate Post Office section.”

This comes following rumours that the separate Post Office counter was to be closed or changed.

These rumours even led to the creation of an online petition, which received more than 800 signatures.

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The petition, started by Sheila Chinn, said: “There is no bank in Wickham anymore, so many local people use the Post Office to bank, buy car tax, etc, and collect their pensions. Local sellers who sell online, regularly use the Post Office to send parcels. Many old and young people in Wickham have no transport, so the Post Office and banking service are vital.

“The Co-op will have a Post Office as such at the till area, which is small and collecting the vast numbers of parcels that come in every day will make it very difficult for the staff, who I know will be trained, but even so, it will make it very difficult for them to keep on top of both grocery sales and Post Office duties.

“Please sign the petition now so that we can put pressure on the decision-makers to change their minds and keep the dedicated Post Office area in the Co-op open.”

Bosses from the Co-op also moved to reassure customers. 

A Southern Co-op spokesperson told the Hampshire Chronicle: “We want to reassure our customers that we never had any plans to remove the separate Post Office secure section in our Wickham store.”