Politicians, residents and volunteers joined together on Monday night to discuss the progress that Harpenden has made over the past 12 months at the town’s annual meeting.

Localism, the high street and genetic modification work at Rothamsted Research were just some of the issues that were highlighted at the meeting, held at Park Hall.

One of the most controversial topics of the evening came from the town’s postmen who announced that Harpenden’s delivery office had been sold off, and that from August some services will be moved to St Albans.

Royal Mail has sold the Station Road office and residents will be forced to queue up in the post office, also in Station Road, for items that could not delivered.

People with a PO box number and those who have been sent letters which haven’t had the correct postage paid will have to travel to the St Albans office, when the Harpenden branch closes.

During the meeting the representatives from the Harpenden delivery office, who have already collected a 10,000-signature strong petition, asked residents to help them in their fight against a move out of the town.

They said that they had found a number of potential sites for a new office in the town, which they are currently putting to Royal Mail.

Stephen Twining, CWU representative for the office, said: "We see no reason why we should be moved - it just seems unnecessary.

"It is going to cause a lot of problems for people."

He is also worried that the service offered to Harpenden residents will be affected during some of the busiest times of the year.

Ha added: "Christmas will just be a complete nightmare.

"It is a busy post office - it’s not very big."

When the move was first announced last year, a representative from Royal Mail said that the decision was because of declining mail volumes and increasingly tough trading conditions.

A copy of the petition can be found at the delivery office in Station Road.

At Monday night’s meeting Councillor Weaver presented cheques to his two charities, Hertfordshiire Air Ambulance and Harpenden Seniors Club, and he also recognised two residents, Wenna Taylor and Ewan Murray, for their services and commitment to the town.

Councillor Weaver also thanked residents for their support over the last year.

He said: "Thank you above all for letting me be your town mayor.

"I have enjoyed my time and trying to do my bit for the community."