ARCHIVED news story
Post Office Closures – South Norfolk Council puts its case
Released on 02 June 2008
We want all our post offices to remain open
Councillor Michelle Monck
South Norfolk Council has today submitted its response to the Post Office Ltd consultation on proposed post office closures in the district.
After months of high profile campaigning to support local post offices, backed by South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, South Norfolk Council has again made clear its objections to the threatened closures today.
When the programme of post office closures for Norfolk and West Suffolk was announced on March 26, five South Norfolk post offices were proposed for closure – Bressingham, Cringleford, Scole, Tacolneston and Trowse – with no outreach service proposed.
Councillor Michelle Monck, South Norfolk Cabinet Member for Tourism, Heritage, Enterprise, Culture and Customer Focus stated:
“We want all our post offices to remain open. South Norfolk Council places the highest of values on preserving sustainable communities throughout our market towns and villages – and our local post offices are central to this.
“There are many practical reasons to keep these post offices open. These post offices provide services to some of our most vulnerable residents.
"Twenty-six per cent of the local population is over 60. Some of our most elderly residents would struggle to get on and off buses and could not then face a walk of up to a third of a mile to the post office – and back again.
“That’s if you’re prepared and able to stand and wait for the bus – public transport in Norfolk can be limited, particularly in these rural areas – so rather than popping to the local shop on foot, more may take to their cars.
"We want to put the environment first in all that we do, so we feel post offices need to stay within local communities on the doorstep – not three miles away!
“Not all of the five offices threatened with closure wish to remain open but those that do have been vigorously supported by the council and through this and their own campaigning, have won tremendous support from residents and others who rely so much upon them.
"For those that do not wish to remain open we have asked Post Office Ltd to provide an outreach service so local residents can still access post office services, locally and without the need to travel. “
South Norfolk Council and local residents are firmly against any post office closure in South Norfolk.
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Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Communications Team |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | communicationsteam@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| telephone: | 01508 533611 or 01508 533983 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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