Kingsclere Post Office to close in cost cutting measures

Counter services moving into a village shop.

KINGSCLERE Post Office is to close, with its counter services moving into a village shop.

Postmistress Nicky Ross, of the George Street post office in the village, told the Newbury Weekly News it was to close before moving into Swan Street Stores as a counter service.

It is not known exactly when the facility will close, and the Post Office was unavailable for comment on the pending closure as the NWN went to press. There is uncertainty over the number of jobs that may be affected, and which services might still be available, following the move.

Kingsclere has also seen the closure of its library in recent months, due to cost-cutting measures by Hampshire County Council.

The library has since been taken over by volunteers, whose hard work has kept the community facility open.

Up to 42 branches of the Post Office countrywide face the axe, with around 1,000 jobs on the line, after bosses issued a list of loss-making branches, sparking speculation of a mass sell-off.

The Post Office has said it is seeking retail partners to work in partnership with to provide franchised services.