During a public meeting held in the village recently, residents heard details of the plans to replace the existing branch with an outreach service.

This would mean its full-time operation of 40 hours per week reduced to opening for four hours every Monday and Thursday. An outreach service could also see sub-postmasters, as well as operating their own post office, provide services to another community on a part-time basis, with postal services located within a local venue, such as a village hall of shop, or alternatively by a mobile van visiting communities at set times, or via home visit service.

Newry and Armagh MLA William Irwin, who also attended the meeting, described the proposals as "simply inadequate".

"I believe this is unrealistic and totally unacceptable to the residents of Loughgall and the surrounding area," he said. "The mood of the meeting was certainly against such a massive reduction in opening time and we left the external relations staff from Post Office Ltd in no doubt of our opposition to the proposals.

"It was pointed out at the meeting that reducing to only eight hours meant that the current number of weekly users would only have two minutes each at the counter and the staff would have deal with more than 25 people per hour within the proposed opening times. This is totally unworkable and obviously would be impossible to do. Local people rely heavily on this service and I feel it is unfair to have the branch go from almost 40 hours per week down to only eight."

Loughgall Post Office is one of four branches to be affected by the plans announced last month. Branches at Battlehill Road, Portadown and Eleven Lane Ends at Clare Road, Tandragee have been earmarked for closure and along with Loughgall Post Office, Ballynacorr Post Office at Carbet Road, Portadown will also be replaced with an outreach service.

However Maureen Edmondson, chair of Postwatch Northern Ireland, insisted many post office customers are "relatively fortunate".

"The majority of proposed alterations are changes to service, rather than outright closures, and this should help minimise customer inconvenience," she said.

To express your views write to Sheila McCann, Network development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, Post office Limited, Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp required) or email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk.