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CAMPAIGNERS young and old are continuing to fight to save their post offices as the public consultation period ends.

All 19 post offices earmarked for closure across the county have now submitted petitions against the closure - amounting in more than 20,000 signatures.

The public consultation period ends Thursday January 31, and Post Office chiefs will now decide which office will face the axe.

Residents in Lacock have been actively campaigning for their post office since last year when it emerged sub post mistress Emma Hands was told not to talk of the impending closure or face financial penalties.

Ten-year-old Joe Hillier from the village has joined the campaign and has written to the Post Office.

In the letter he says: "The old residents of the village can't get about as good - most don't have cars.

"But the sad part is if you close our village post office Mrs Emma Hands will have to close the village shop as she relies on the post office customers that then spend in the shop.

"As a young child growing up and having such a lovely village to play in I see lots of tourists using the post office to send their post cards and letters overseas to friends and loved ones.

"If this closure goes ahead you will certainly put a very huge dent in the village."

In Kington St Michael, villagers and the parish council have all sent in their petitions against the closure and submitted a detailed report damming the proposal.

Chairman of the parish council Claire Marlow said: "There are several issues we have with the proposal - including the inaccuracies in the Post Office's report.

"Disabled access, parking and proximity to the ATM are all concerns about the possible closure.

"The post office is not only the heart of the community - but an essential resource that many people rely on.

"I would like to personally thank everyone who has submitted their petition and I just hope it has been enough.

"We will continue to fight this."

A spokesperson for the Post Office said that final decisions would be announced in the next few weeks.

They said: "All of the material that we have received during the public consultation will now be reviewed.

"It will take a few weeks to look through everything and make the final decisions.

"Everyone will be informed as soon as any decision is made."

2:26pm Tuesday 29th January 2008

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