TEST Valley Borough Council’s Romsey office faces the axe in a cost-cutting exercise ordered by the authority’s bosses.

Civic chiefs are to review its Andover and Romsey set-ups and one of two options is to close the Duttons Road site.

The alternative is to establish whether office space at both sites is being put to good use and to let any spare accommodation.

Some of the 70 staff at Duttons Road would be transferred to Andover if it was sold and a new customer service centre set up in the town.

Staff who don’t transfer would be offered the chance to work from home.

Officials said some “hot desking” could be provided in the new customer service centre.

Details of the review will be revealed next spring.

Test Valley’s leader Ian Carr said: “I recognise that while this review is being conducted it will be an unsettling time for our staff, particularly in Duttons Road, but I believe they will understand the need to ensure we are providing maximum value for money for the hard pressed council taxpayer.”

Unison spokesman Peter Phillips said if the Romsey office closed it would mean employees paying more to get to work.

“Not all staff have cars and if they have to transfer to the Andover offices they are going to have a one-and-ahalf- hour daily commute via Winchester or Salisbury by train because there are no buses between Romsey and Andover,” he said.

“Some posts might be at risk of duplication of roles.”

One councillor who did not want to be named, branded the idea “ludicrous”, warning: “How can they expect people to go from Chilworth to Andover to see someone at the council office there? It’s a 50-mile round trip and it’s utter stupidity to think this will work.”