AROUND 500 signatures were added at Romsey Show on Saturday to a petition objecting to the possible closure of Test Valley Borough Council's Duttons Road offices in Romsey.

The council is conducting a study into the feasibility of closing Duttons Road, where it employs around 90 people, and moving staff to its Beech Hurst offices at Andover. But the possibility of the closure has set alarm bells ringing and prompted considerable opposition from people in the town.

And signatures have been rolling in on petition forms at various shops, offices and other businesses in the Southern Test Valley area.

Those signatures took a major step forward at Romsey Show when 12 members of staff from Duttons Road manned a stand and spoke to showgoers.

"Our presence there went very well and we added 500 signatures," said Peter Phillips, chairman of the Test Valley branch of the Unison trade union.

He added: "We were quite encouraged by the general reaction and it is quite clear to us that the people of Romsey don't want to lose the Duttons Road offices."

He added that staff have also been in Romsey town centre on Saturday mornings and have spoken to members of the public about the Duttons Road issue.

"The response there has also encouraged us a lot," he said. With petition sheets at various locations, the exact number of signatures is not yet known, but Mr Phillips said it was likely to run into thousands.

When all the forms have been collected, they will be put together and handed in to the council so they can be referred to in the official report to be considered by the Borough executive at its meeting on November 3rd.

The union has pointed out that the action being taken by staff has no connection with any political party.