RESIDENTS are “shocked” at proposals to move a Dorchester post office to Poundbury.

A consultation exercise is underway regarding the proposal to relocate the Maud Road Post Office in Victoria Park to Poundbury Village Stores.

Residents in Victoria Park are concerned that they will be left without a local service, while Poundbury will have two post offices after one opened at Buttermarket Stores.

Dorchester town and county council Richard Biggs said that residents in the Maud Road area who had spoken to him were “shocked by this”.

He said: “While I welcome a new and improved branch I too think that the Victoria Park needs a store and it is a very long way for people, particularly the elderly, to go now if the new post office branch opens in Poundbury.”

A local resident asked: “Do Poundbury need two? And thereby leave the residents of Victoria Park and surrounding roads with none?”

The Post Office says the proposal would see the relocated branch open for an extra 52 hours and 30 minutes a week including all-day on Sundays and on Saturday afternoons.

It added that the proposed new location also has improved access.

Suzanne Richardson, regional network manager, said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.

“We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.

This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.”

The Post Office stressed that the proposed relocation would be with the current postmaster’s agreement and it is encouraging local residents to get involved in the consultation exercise, which runs until August 9.

Submissions can be made during the consultation by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the customer helpline on 03457 22 33 44 or textphone on 03457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views online at postofficeviews.co.uk