Romsey MP Caroline Nokes slams plans to shut Post Office

On Wednesday, November 13, the Post Office revealed plans 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 plans to close the branch in Romsey town centre. 

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Ms Nokes described the potential closure as "devastating".

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

Caroline Nokes has urged for the plans to be shelved (Image: Contributed)

Ms Nokes emphasised that small businesses in Romsey, which still rely on cash transactions, would face significant challenges. Similarly, the town's elderly population—many of whom depend on postal services and other Post Office functions—would struggle to access the support they need.

She said: "Over the past few years, we have seen banking services much diminished in the town, with the presence of a main branch Post Office providing a range of banking services as a viable alternative. For many, this has proved to be a workable solution, but if the Post Office goes, there will be next to nothing left."

"The Post Office has an appalling reputation at present, following the Horizon scandal, during which many subpostmasters and mistresses were forced out of the business. We saw the network shrink dramatically, and this latest proposal is further evidence of the Post Office riding roughshod over the 'little people,' the customers that are its lifeblood."

Ms Nokes has urged the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to step in and shelve the proposals.