WILLITON villagers are being urged to support their local Post Office after the owners were warned to expect a massive monthly pay cut in order to keep the branch in its current form.

Brian and Caroline Tyner, of Williton Post Office, said they were determined to keep operating from the current building in Fore Street despite an attempt by Post Office bosses to get them to relocate.

There have been rumours that the outlet would be downsized and amalgamated within the existing local Spar shop across the road.

But Mr Tyner said they were only rumours, sparked by a visit from the Post Office’s network transformation team.

He said he and his wife would not consider moving out of the existing premises, not least because they owned the building but also because they generated much needed additional income from other sales within the larger shop.

The couple said they had been asked by Post Office bosses to move into a smaller sub-office within the local Spar shop but also gave them the option of staying put – by making changes and taking a £500 a month pay cut.

Mr Tyner said: “We have decided to try and stay where we are by making the necessary structural changes that Post Office Ltd will require for this option.

“However, if we are to survive the reduced income we will need greater support in the form of footfall and an increase in transactions per customer.”

He said many people were unaware of the wide variety of services available from the Post Office, including mortgages, telephone and broadband packages, insurance and financial services.

He said the growing popularity of online transactions had gradually whittled away business in local Post Offices in the ten years since he and his wife had taken over the branch.

“We need to point out to the people of Williton and the surrounding areas that if this trend continues we may well go the same way as the local NatWest Bank.

“Traditionally, we have always enjoyed fantastic public support but we have had a reduction in footfall and the queues are noticeably smaller.

“We want to continue serving the community for many years to come – we don’t want people to spend more money, but would ask them to consider paying their bills and taxing their cars in their local Post Office rather than online or through the post,” Mr Tyner said.

And he said it was particularly important people made use of the Post Office both in the long and short term.

“We have to submit a financial assessment of our Post Office and retail business before the end of October in order for Post Office Ltd to allow us to continue the negotiations – we need villagers’ support in both areas,” he said.