Shropshire register offices face axe

But included in the proposals are increasing the opening hours at four offices in the county.

The registrar services under threat of closure are in Wem, Church Stretton and Bishop's Castle.

Whitchurch and Market Drayton's offices would increase opening hours and Oswestry would go full-time.

Bridgnorth would also see an increase in appointments if other nearby offices have to close, but Ludlow would reduce its opening hours.

Services in Shrewsbury would remain the same if the proposed reorganisation goes ahead.

A six-week consultation was launched today on the changes, proposed by Shropshire Council. There are currently 11 locations in the Shropshire Council area where registrars offer a variety of services ranging from birth and death registrations, to marriage and civil ceremonies and nationality checking.

Shropshire Council says with changes introduced over the last few years, such as certificate ordering online and a reduction in staff resources, the opportunity has presented itself to further redesign the service and further reduce costs.

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for health, said: "Registrars services play a vital role at key points in people's lives, and we want to ensure they continue to serve and meet the needs of local communities in a more sustainable and cost-effective way."

Michael Braid, outgoing mayor of Church Stretton, spoke of his concerns if services in the town's Church Street library are cut.

He said: "South Shropshire is full of little enclaves where people are go to retire."

"In Church Stretton we have very few births, but a lot of deaths. It's obviously going to be inconvenient for a dear old lady of 90 who has to go to Shrewsbury or Ludlow to register the death of her husband."