LUDLOW could have lost its town-centre Post Office by the end of the summer.

If a planning application to turn the One-Stop-Shop in Tower Street into a restaurant and flats is approved, then the town centre will be without a Post Office.

A planning application has been submitted to turn the existing One-Stop-Shop that houses a Post Office into a restaurant and apartments.

Vivienne Parry, a Ludlow Town Councillor and member of Shropshire Council says the loss of the Post Office would make life very difficult for many people.

“It is used by everyone from elderly people getting a pension to young mums collecting benefits,” said Vivienne Parry.

“At the end of the day, there are queues of people, some of them running businesses in the town, who have parcels to post.

“There are people with disabilities who use the Post Office and who would not be able to go elsewhere. There definitely needs to be a Post Office in the town centre.”

She said that the nearest alternative Post Office, in a shop near Ludlow Hospital, is too far away.

“There are a lot of problems in that area with a shortage of parking,” added Vivienne Parry.

The Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow South said that she expects the planning application to be determined within the next six weeks and, if approved and the developer wants to get on with the work, then the Post Office could be gone by the end of the year.