A ROMSEY butcher has described plans that could see the Post Office close as 'another nail in the coffin' for the town. 

As previously reported, on Wednesday, November 13, The Post Office revealed it is looking to offload 115 directly owned branches within its 11,500 network, which could see them transferred to retail partners or postmasters, or potentially closed.

This list includes Romsey, confirming it is at risk of closure and job losses. 

READ MORE: Romsey Post Office at risk of closure putting jobs at risk

The post office in RomseyThe post office in Romsey (Image: Google Street View) Around 1,000 workers are employed across the branches, while the Post Office also confirmed that hundreds of further roles are under threat at its headquarters as it looks to streamline back-office operations.

MP Caroline Nokes has urged the Post Office to reconsider, emphasising that small businesses in Romsey, which still rely on cash transactions, would face significant challenges.

One of those is Oasis Romsey, which neighbours the Post Office in Church Street.

SEE MORE: 'There will be next to nothing left' - MP slams plans to shut Romsey branch

Mary Rowland was dismayed to hear the Post Office could close (Image: Chris Atkinson) Mary Rowland, the deputy manager, told the Advertiser: “If it closes, we won’t be able to send parcels or anything by mail. It is one service we have always used – to post to people, so they will not get the items as quickly as they could.

“I feel very sorry for the people working there. It is their job, and they are so pleasant and helpful.

“And at the moment, people come to the post office and they might see us and come in, so it might impact our footfall too.”

The closure would be an inconvenience to the Butcher's (Image: Chris Atkinson) Paul Salloway, of B. Drummond Butchers in Bell Street, said: “It would affect us. It would be an inconvenience because we get our change from there, and we do our banking there as well.

“It closing would be another nail in the coffin.

“It will have an impact on footfall. The banks and the post office going, that affects the number of people coming into the town.”