Changes to Porthleven Post Office would leave the owners out of pocket and customers lacking privacy - without any proper consultation taking place, it has been claimed.

Residents of the port are now being urged to make their feelings known, before it's too late.

Cornwall Councillor Andrew Wallis has set up his own campaign to make people aware that the dedicated post office counter within Porthleven Convenience Store, which not only provides privacy but also security to staff handling cash, is to be removed and a one counter for the whole of the shop installed.

The cost of the work is being placed on the shop owners, Paul and Sharon Edwards, aside from a grant of up to £1,400.

Not only this, but Post Office Ltd has also announced it intends to remove the salary that the couple receive for running the post office.

Mr Wallis said: "The loss of the salary is a huge blow to Paul and Sharon, as this pays the staff that operate the post office. For a small business like theirs, it will be very difficult to keep the current staff levels, operate the post office and other parts of the shop.

"The business will have to make this loss of a salary up from the general running costs of the store. Losing circa £14,000 is not a small amount to absorb.

"Speaking to Paul and Sharon it is clear they are gutted with the changes. They have worked hard to run this successful shop, and have built up a loyal customer base. It is also clear that the shop has to accept the changes, or the alternative will be to lose the Post Office facility."

Mr Wallis said he had written to Post Office Ltd, "objecting most strongly" to the changes, and as a result he was meeting with head of external relations at the Porthleven branch.

He added that, officially, there was a "consultation period" until next Tuesday, February 2, and no changes would be made until that had finished.

Yet, he claimed Post Office officials had already been in the shop measuring up and that when he challenged the length of the consultation, and information given to residents, he was told it was in fact not a consultation, but a "communication about the changes."

Post Office Ltd's code of practice states it only has to carry out a full consultation if it moves or closes a facility.

"It is clear to me, that the Post Office are rail-roading these changes without one thought to the community. This is an outrageous slap in the face to the residents of Porthleven," said Mr Wallis.

"My fear is with the changes and the loss of the salary to help run the Post Office will put a huge pressure on the other parts of the shop, resulting in the Post Office not being a viable option. If no other premises in Porthleven wished to take on the Post Office facility, we in Porthleven could be in grave danger of losing our Post Office forever. I am not saying this would definitely happen, but it is a concern."

A petition has been started in the post office, but Mr Wallis urged people to email Post Office Ltd with their views, and asking for a longer, proper consultation, via comments@postoffice.co.uk and to copy him in at awallis@cornwall.gov.uk so he could ensure they had been received by the company.

Alternatively, he asked that people write a letter and leave it at the post office, the town council office or posted through his letterbox to be passed on.