A PROTEST was held outside Hereford's main Post Office over concerns about a move to WHSmith.

The Post Office has launched a consultation to move the branch from St Peter's Street to WHSmith in High Town.

The Communication Workers Union held a National Day of action across the UK on Saturday as part of their campaign to fight crown office closures.

Crown offices are branches directly managed by Post Office Ltd - the move in Hereford will mean the branch will be a franchise and managed by WHSmith.

CWU branch secretary Brendon Allen said: "We had a lot of support from the public. They were worried about the service they are going to get and the access arrangements.

"There are 21 counters in Hereford currently. They are worried they are going to have significantly less than that."

He said in Worcester when a similar move was made counter numbers were reduced dramatically and the service was placed upstairs. They also added many more self service counters.

Under the new proposals there will be four service counters and four self-service counters at WHSmith and the proposed location is on the ground floor level with signage at the entrance.

Brendon said members are concerned about their jobs and future terms and conditions.

Activists gathered signatures for the #SaveOurPostOffice campaign throughout the day.

There will be a customer forum on Monday, December 10 between 3.30pm and 7pm at Shirehall, St Peter's Square, Hereford.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We are talking to the Hereford branch team about their potential options. Employees have the right to transfer their employment in line with TUPE legislation if a decision is made to franchise their branch, there might also be opportunities for redeployment or voluntary settlement.

“If a member of the Post Office team transfers employment under TUPE legislation they will do so with the protections afforded to them by that legislation.”

The TUPE Regulations preserve employees' terms and conditions when a business or undertaking, or part of one, is transferred to a new employer.

The Post Office consultation ends on December 19.