Sir.-The story "Plan means post office could close" (last Thursday's Gazette) contains details which we take exception to.

The shop and post office will close in December because the owners are retiring and no one wishes to take over the business. Therefore, it must revert to domestic use.

We don't believe there has been a "public outcry". In fact, the council's planning department has received no objections to the application for change of use and, unusually, there were three letters in sympathy with our situation.

No pensioner will be "forced" to go to Basingstoke. There is a new post office only five minutes away at the Co-op in Beggarwood.

In any case, there is not one pensioner who attends this post office by any other way than by car.

Dummer Parish Council has explored other ways of maintaining some sort of retail outlet in the village, by circulating a questionnaire and holding meetings in the village hall, but nothing positive came of it.

However, Post Office Counters will shortly invite applications for the vacant post of sub-postmaster (part-time) if the village can provide the premises.

Michael and Shamim Williams,
Dummer Stores and Post Office,
Dummer.