A DEMONSTRATION will be held to protest against the planned closure of Colchester’s post office branch.

Members of the Colchester Labour Party and the Communications Workers Union will convene at the North Hill branch on Thursday at 10.30am to voice their opposition.

The Save Our Post Office campaign follows the announcement by Post Office to move Colchester town centre services to WHSmith in Culver Walk.

Colchester is one of 74 post offices across the country to be franchised to the retail giant.

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Colchester Tina McKay said: “To squeeze it into WHSmith will make accessibility difficult, there will be a reduction in services, less jobs and people will not get the service they receive.

“We want the concerns of the community to be seriously considered.

“Using public money to fund post office closures and franchises is unacceptable.

“How many people would agree it is money well spent?”

Colin Love, Communications Workers Union representative, said: “The announcement of a further 74 post offices to be franchised means the network will have been cut by 60 per cent since 2013 with a loss of jobs and a reduction in services.

“This is bad for both the workers and people who use the post office and adds to the decline of the high street.”

Roger Gale, network and sales director for Post Office said he understood that customers may have concerns about the proposed changes.

He said there will be no changes to any of the services available over the counter at the Colchester branch and the branch will be open longer, including on Sundays.

He said: “The Post Office is not immune to the pressures facing all retailers.

“We must respond to the unprecedented change taking place on high streets and adapt to changing customer needs.”

A public consultation on the plans is running until December 28.

You can fill in a survey at postofficeviews.co.uk, email comments@postoffice.co.uk or send a letter to Freepost Your Comments.