COMMUNITY leaders today announced a new scheme which will have the double whammy of supporting the area's post offices - and saving taxpayers' money.From April 1, any resident wanting to pay cash to Suffolk Coastal will no longer visit the council's Woodbridge offices and will instead be able to make their payment at any post office.

COMMUNITY leaders today announced a new scheme which will have the double whammy of supporting the area's post offices - and saving taxpayers' money.

From April 1, any resident wanting to pay cash to Suffolk Coastal will no longer visit the council's Woodbridge offices and will instead be able to make their payment at any post office.

“With fewer than 80 people a week paying cash at our Woodbridge office, it has become increasingly uneconomic to continue to offer this service, particularly when there are many more convenient local ways for people to pay their bills and we could ultimately save as much as £50,000 a year by taking away this option,” said cabinet member Robert Whiting.

He said increasing numbers of people were now paying their bills for council tax and other services on-line or by telephone.

“We are constantly reviewing how we can make our services more efficient as we have to find ways of reducing costs to help balance our books,” he said.

“Our customers have shown that they too are moving with the times, using convenient automated ways of paying their bills with a steadily dwindling number paying by cash.

“With so few people paying by cash at our office, this is now a small fraction of the volume which used to be dealt with.

“The vast majority of people prefer to go online, pick up a phone, or use a direct debit or standing order. As a result, we will no longer take any cash payments at our Melton Hill offices.”