DEPLORABLE — that was the verdict on plans to shut post offices or reduce services in villages throughout West Devon, following a packed public meeting in Bridestowe on Monday. More than 320 residents crowded into the village hall to put their views on proposals by Post Office Ltd, part of a consultation process many felt was a sham. West Devon Borough Council member David Weeks slammed the proposal to shut two post offices — at Ford Street in Tavistock and at Sampford Courtenay — completely, to reduce services in seven other villages and to withdraw or reduce the mobile service in five more. Cllr Weeks said the borough was disappointed at the high number of closures for Devon and concerned at the disproportionate number of outreach offices being proposed. He said: 'We deplore the deception regarding the kind of outreach service being offered. It is my belief if was never intended to operate mobile services.' Cllr Weeks also questioned the accuracy of statistics used by Post Office Ltd when it drew up its closure programme. 'It is deplorable that two weeks into a six-week consultation period, we are no further forward,' he said. Bridestowe Post Office and Stores is a growing business serving and delivering to customers within a 40-mile radius — yet its post office is facing closure. Naomi Nardi, who runs the business with her husband, Richard, handed more than 580 letters supporting Bridestowe Post Office to Colin Pound, of Post Office Ltd. Mrs Nardi said her business had grown year on year in the six years the couple had been running it. She said: 'When the proposals were first announced it seemed it was failing businesses that would be doomed to close. To a large extent, we feel betrayed — we didn't expect to be on the closure list at all. 'We reckon we serve a customer base in excess of 3,000; we touch a lot of different people's lives, there's a whole web of connections.' John Pratt, of Combe Bow, said: 'I see little point having a fake consultation exercise. I'd like to be reassured there is a genuine chance that this decision could be reversed.' Gilly Oliver, of Bridestowe, asked: 'Why are you looking at closing a profitable post office, one which can only earn more in the future, given development in the village?' Steve Hay, of Chillaton Post Office, which under the proposals would become a reduced hours 'outreach' service, said he had a vibrant post office and shop in a thriving community. 'We are not on a regular bus route, we have an ageing population, many don't drive, we are certainly not within four miles of any other post office — I am somewhat dubious about this outreach proposal,' he said. Nick Payne, a director of West Devon Borough Council, said: 'I am interested to know how something like 300 transactions a week converts into a proposal to provide a mobile outreach for ten hours a week — how is that to be successfully catered for? It doesn't stack up to me.' Jade Oliver, of Bridestowe, said she needed to send documents to Europe and Africa at different times of the day and a reduced hours mobile service would not be available when she needed it. 'What will Post Office Ltd do to compensate for that?' she asked. Lewdown postmaster Dave Crocker said the proposals were 'despicable'. He was concerned that under the new arrangements, some transactions would not be possible. Richard Proctor, of Meeth, said that under the proposals, his village would only have access to a mobile service for four hours a week. 'The post office serves approximately 100 customers a week. If you work it out, that's about 2.5 minutes per customer,' he said. Mr Proctor was also concerned about the timings of the mobile service and the suggested place it could park, on a dangerous stretch of the A386. Brian Bird, of Dippertown, said West Devon residents were being treated like second class citizens and he found the proposals inflexible and 'hardly sustainable' — he also felt Postwatch 'had no teeth' and would be ineffectual in acting on behalf of residents. 'I sound rather angry — and I am,' said Mr Bird. Colin Pound, of Post Office Ltd, said the Government was reducing its Post Office subsidy to £150-million a year and the closure programme was the business's only option. He said : 'You all obviously feel very strongly about the Post Office — that comes across very strongly. For God's sake, sit down and write individual letters, give us good reasons why we should not close your post office and they will be taken into account.' Mr Pound said talks were underway to change where the mobile post office in Meeth would be situated and a health and safety inspection would be carried out. He said the aim was to make outreach and mobile services as simple as possible, so transactions could only be undertaken where a bar code was present. He said mobile services were working in other areas of the country and effectively serving around 25 customers an hour. John Baverstock, of Postwatch, admitted that in the past, the watchdog organisation had had 'no teeth' — but in this case, it had played a full role regarding the closure programme. Mr Baverstock said: 'We need constructive views and the reasons why the various offices in question should not close. What we need are the difficulties you are going to experience. 'At the end of the consultation period we will sit down with Post Office Ltd and make representations as to which ones we feel are justified in staying open — but at the end of the day, it's Post Office Ltd's decision.' The consultation period finishes on June 30. Comments on the changes should be sent to Tim Nickolls, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM or email [email protected]">[email protected]