SUPERMARKET boss Sir Ken Morrison is today being asked personally to intervene and save a Felixstowe post office from closure.Town councillors have agreed to write a strong letter of protest to the Morrisons chief in the hope that the company will change its mind about axing the sub office which serves a community of nearly 8,000 people.
SUPERMARKET boss Sir Ken Morrison is today being asked personally to intervene and save a Felixstowe post office from closure.
Town councillors have agreed to write a strong letter of protest to the Morrisons chief in the hope that the company will change its mind about axing the sub office which serves a community of nearly 8,000 people.
Councillors are furious about the proposed closure and have warned the company, which is taking over the Safeway store in Grange Farm Avenue, that the move could see it lose business.
Morrisons announced earlier this month that it had done an urgent review of its new stores and decided not to seek new contracts with the Post Office and had given Post Office Ltd notice of its intention to end the franchise.
No final closure date had been agreed yet.
Councillor Mike Ninnmey told the council's finance and general purposes committee Morrisons appeared to have made a "knee jerk reaction" in deciding to close the post office and hoped they could be persuaded to think again.
"I think having a post office in that store provides Morrisons with a lot of customers they would not otherwise have," he said.
"It is the only one in the west of the town and also serves people in the south since they lost the post office in Beach Station Road, and also serves all the companies at Felixstowe port.
"People who use the post office also use the store, and the downside for Morrisons will be that in future people will have to come into town and will do their shopping there instead."
Councillor Mike Deacon said a post office in Wadgate Road had been forced to close in order for the one at the supermarket to be opened.
Councillor Andy Smith said the Safeway/Morrisons complex - which also features a doctor's surgery, pharmacy, filling station, pub and church - was regarded as a "neighbourhood centre" and all its amenities were crucial.
"The post office is a significant part of the chemistry of that site," he said.
Councillor David Cawdron said the post office was vital to many elderly and disabled people who would face a long and difficult trip into the town centre, while former mayor Doreen Savage doubted the main Hamilton Road office could cope with all the extra business.
A petition against the closure has been started by residents and can be signed in the BASICS charity shop next door to the supermarket.
What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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