OAPs 600-strong petition

PENSIONERS at an Ipswich sheltered housing scheme are fuming today over the proposed closure of their nearest post office.

Tenants from Cumberland Towers in Norwich Road are furious Barrack Corner post office could be shut and have organised a 600-signature petition in protest.

The tower block is home to 61 elderly sheltered tenants and most residents rely on the post office to withdraw pension money.

The planned scrapping of the Barrack Corner post office - one of six threatened on the outskirts of town - has hit the community hard.

However, the Royal Mail has said that if there is enough demand the post offices may not be axed.

The OAP's petition will to be sent to the Royal Mail at the end of next week in a bid to change the management's mind.

Should the Barrack Corner Post Office close, the pensioners will be forced to walk to the post office on either London Road or in the Tower Ramparts shopping centre.

Dorothy Clapson, 83, said: "As you get older, you don't want to be making such long journeys. Even if we had our pensions paid into a bank, it's still an awful long way to go."

Resident Kathleen Brennan, 81, said: "It would cost me £8 to get a taxi if it closes."

Seventy nine-year-old Joan Welham, said: "The decision affects me because I have somebody from Age Concern for one hour a week and if they have to go further to get my pension, it will take longer than that."

The petition, which has been signed by every one of the residents at Cumberland Towers, also has the signatures of residents from two other sheltered schemes affected by the possible closure - Wingate House, which is on Bramford Road and Walton House, on Emlen Street.

N Are you affected by the post office closures? If so tell us what you think by writing in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk