Sir – Witney has one of 370 Crown post offices in the country, of which 76 have been earmarked for closure.

The post office is being subsidised by the taxpayer, (15 per cent of total revenue), (this could be viewed as payment for government services).

The volume of mail has dropped because of the internet but there is still a heavy demand for postal services. This could explain why the UK Government want to sell off the Royal Mail.

There is a massive deficit in the National Post Office Pension Plan, which may have encouraged the Government to sell shares.

The national average waiting time in crown post offices is seven-and-a-half minutes. Witney is usually double that, due to lack of staff.

The premises that are currently occupied by the Witney main post office, 2-4 Market Square, are rented and the lease has to be renewed shortly. A large developer bought most of the block last year, including Lloyds Bank.

The post office currently occupies 238 sq metres, WH Smith’s entire shop is only slightly bigger, so I cannot see how this location is suitable when the town has been designed to grow and the postal service will only increase in this town.

James Robertshaw, High Street, Witney