Bromham’s sub-postmaster is retiring after 16 years but the village will retain a post office if plans to move it to another location are approved.

The Post Office is proposing to relocate the branch into Bromham Stores, which is 161 metres away and housed the facility many years ago.

David Price, who is 65 next April, told the Post Office of his intention to retire earlier this year and is delighted the service will remain in the village.

Mr Price took over as the village sub-postmaster in February 1997 when he and his wife Chris and their four teenage children bought the combined post office and house as a change of career.

Mr Price had been made redundant from his job as a quality manager at an engineering company in Swindon. Bromham Post Office had been on the market for two years and there had been fears it might not continue.

Mr Price said: “We liked the house and it had a post office business attached to it. It was a total change for me. I was a little apprehensive but it’s worked out really well. The village was very welcoming and it’s been an extremely enjoyable period for me. It’s far nicer coming down your stairs to your place of work than driving to Swindon.

“Relocating the post office to the village stories is a solution to our problem. We would not want to shut the door on the post office without an alternative. We want to stay living here.”

Mr Price bought the post office from the Hard family, who had run it since 1927, and they moved it from the village shop to its present location in New Road.

Most of the Post Office facilities will remain if it relocates to Bromham Stores – the only services to be lost are Parcelforce Worldwide International Parcels, Transcash (without barcode) and Premium Saving Bonds. The opening hours will be longer at 88 hours a week, including ten on Sundays.

Adrian Dunn, who has owned Bromham Stores for two years, said he was looking forward to offering Post Office facilities.

Mr Dunn, 48, who was a stonemason in Swanage, Dorset, changed career to take on the shop. He said: “We are excited about it. I think we will get more people in the shop as a result of having Post Office services.”

Peter Paget, chairman of Bromham Parish Council, said the proposal to relocate the post office was a win-win situation for the village.

“We would be very pleased that the post office facility will be retained,” he said.

“It’s very sad to be losing Mr Price, who has done a good job. The post office is used by a lot of people in Bromham but also by residents of Rowde, Poulshot and Sandy Lane who don’t want to travel to Devizes.”

The Post Office is holding a consultation period on the proposed relocation until November 28. Comments can be emailed to comments@postoffice.co.uk or via 08457 223344. If approved, the post office would move to the village shop in January 2014.