HUNDREDS of experienced postmasters will be lost as part of changes to our post offices, a union secretary has warned.

Branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Mark Baker said the changes have proved “very unpopular”.

More than 100 people turned out to show their support for postmistress Elaine Newbold who runs Charlbury Post Office.

She said she has been told unless she makes the shop part of her business more profitable the Post Office may have to move to another shop in the town.

Mrs Newbold said it would be impossible to meet the £2,000 weekly target for turnover the Post Office demands.

She said she will be left with a five-year lease on the building she rents with her husband and business partner Tim, in Market Street.

She said: “The new model is uneconomical to run.

“All my years of service are to be thrown aside.”

People in the town have rallied round forming a campaign group called Save Charlbury Post Office and have written to Prime Minister David Cameron calling for him to reverse the plans.

The Post Office has been rolling out its programme since 2010 and a number of branches in Oxfordshire have closed or been moved.

But CWU’s Mr Baker said since March this year the scheme had been stepped up and many postmasters were being forced to close up.

He said: “They are sending out letters saying they are now going to make the transformation compulsory and this will often mean dismissing the postmasters from their contract.

“We’re going to lose hundreds and hundreds of experienced postmasters.”

Mother-of-two Kiruba Sathiapal, postmistress at Cumnor Post Office, said she has been offered the chance to stay in her premises and transform into a new style Post Office Local Plus.

She will have to increase her takings by £300 each day to make the business viable.

Transformation PR manager Sheila Tapster said negotiations were ongoing over the Charlbury branch.

She said: “As part of our Government-funded investment programme we need to ensure branches in our network are commercially sustainable into the future.”

Changes

Oxford, St Aldate's: City centre branch remains in its current location. Improvements include a new openplan layout, four self-service kiosks for postage and one dedicated counter for post Oxford, Cowley Road: Moved to Honest Stationery in Cowley Road. Weekly opening hours have increased to 60 hours. Car tax added to services available.

Cumnor Post Office: Offered the chance to transform into a Post Office Local Plus. All existing Post Office services will be protected. There will be longer opening hours and the retail side of the business will have to increase.

Witney: The central post office moved to the town’s WH Smith office in 2013. It opens for nine hours longer a week.

Chipping Norton: Plans revealed to move the Post Office to the Co-op supermarket. There will be longer opening hours for some services.

Burford: Has moved to Burford News at 83 High Street. The branch opening hours have increased to 76 hours a week.