D-DAY is looming for Petersfield's Clare Gardens post office as the consultation period is set to end next Wednesday. Post Office Ltd's decision to axe many of its outlets has hit Petersfield and the surrounding area hard, with councillors and the public vocal in their disdain for the plans. And the latest date for the outcome of the consultation has only served to prolong the agonising wait for people running post office branches who were originally told they would be informed of the final decision by late December. While the branch at Clare Gardens, on Durford Road, is earmarked for closure, the fate of other local branches also hang in the balance. Nearby post offices in West Meon, East Meon and Froxfield have been proposed to be replaced by outreach services, offering limited service as part of the changes. East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) has pledged £70,000 to help keep all village stores under threat open and appointed a firm of consultants to visit branches at the end of November to assess the shops and their sustainability without a post office counter. The £70,000 pledged by EHDC would include practical support for those stores immediately threatened by closure and a long-term strategy of working together to keep them open. EHDC leader Ferris Cowper explained that the strong concern was the impact on the local community of the proposed closures. He said that local post offices and village stores were at the heart of rural life and that EHDC would do its best to keep them open. Another suggestion was that local communities could take over stores as community initiatives or that local councils could enter into a joint venture or even take over village stores. EHDC lead councillor for economic development Ken Moon believed that the only way forward was to think outside the box. He stressed that while he was aware that there was a need to use tax payers' money "carefully and efficiently", EHDC's intention was that any investment should bring real benefit to the communities involved. He added that he was determined to do all he could to keep village stores open and pointed out that every rural area needed its stores, as residents and small businesses depended on them, and he promised to come up with a tangible and long-term solution by working with local stores. In Petersfield's case, losing Clare Gardens would mean all business would centre on the main branch in The Square, a branch which many feel is already overcrowded. In October, Petersfield town councillor Vaughan Clarke said: "The length of queues at The Square post office can on occasions go up to 10 people long outside the post office doors." Councillors added that the ability of the town square post office to absorb the business of the Clare Gardens branch must be severely questioned. A report from Petersfield Town Council's town clerk in October concluded that the "closure of the post office could seriously undermine the viability of the convenience store business, resulting in its ultimate closure and the loss of an important service to the community". It added that a town the size of Petersfield needed more than one post office to support its population. Other key points raised were that more than 6,000 people live within one mile of the Clare Gardens branch and that it was easily accessible for East Hampshire District Council staff. In November, more than 100 residents from in and around Petersfield attended a district council community forum to discuss the future of threatened post offices in the area. Many residents said they would like to see their services preserved as outreach services, otherwise it was felt that the shops that house the branches may no longer be viable. Many of the members of the public were angry as they feared losing a service a vital part of their daily lives. With no petitions being taken, councillors at the time urged residents to write letters to the consultation team which was planning to axe the post office. Committee chairman Jennifer Gray said: "We have an uphill battle to convince the Post Office to change their minds." In an open public debate, people cited the Durford Road post office as more convenient than the main one at The Square. Benefits included lack of queues, easy parking, and opportunities to bump into friends. Owners of small businesses in and around Petersfield said it would prove costly and time consuming if they had to use the main post office as they would have to travel further, pay for parking, and queue longer. Bob Ayer said: "Petersfield Town Council were horrified at the plans. There was a lot of concern that the capability of the main post office was insufficient. The suggestion of Harting as a second alternative was regarded as a very bad joke in bad taste." Judy Onslow said: "I totally support keeping the Durford Road post office open because I think it is an excellent local facility." Elizabeth Cartwright said: "We would be poorer as a society if we lost all our local shops. It is an important part of our English fabric and our way of life." Ann Claxton added: "The Durford Road post office is a lifesaver as far as a lot of people are concerned and I would wholeheartedly support keeping it open."