Newel post protruding into kitchen

[debct]

We are having a new kitchen fitted and there is a newel post protruding into the kitchen by 26cm. It is going to be in the way of the units and we would like to know if we can trim about 4cm off the bottom of the post, we have never seen this in a house before. The house was built in about 1990.
Many thanks for any answers

 

[chappers]

cut right back to the bottom of the string if you like

 

[debct]

Thanks, is there a reason they would have left it so long?

 

[big-all]

my thoughts personally
why is it so long ??
about half that is enough for decorative or strength purposes
wonder if it used to go to the floor and has been cut back ??
does the bottom look neat and finished or just crude and unfinished ??

 

[debct]

It looks sawn off or maybe just the original length. I don't think it went to floor as it would have been in the way of the kitchen base units.