RESIDENTS in Pettaugh have been left baffled today after the Post Office revealed plans to open a replacement branch a mile down the road with similar opening times.
RESIDENTS in Pettaugh have been left baffled today after the Post Office revealed plans to open a replacement branch a mile down the road with similar opening times.
The villagers were outraged when they discovered the Post Office was closing its small branch within the village store. But this has changed to confusion after the opening times and locations of outreach outlets were announced last week.
The idea is the outlets will replace 17 branches in the East Essex and Suffolk area after 47 post offices were closed across the region.
Those who used to use the post office in Pettaugh have now been told they can use the services at a branch in Stonham Barns, which will open between 9.30pm and 5pm.
Richard Clark, of Ipswich Way, has lived in Pettaugh, near Stowmarket, for the last 20 years and has come to depend on the post office as the centre point in the village.
Mr Clark, 63, said: “The post office in Pettaugh has always been used very heavily. They have now set up a new post office at Stonham Barns but I don't understand why they have to close the old one. They would have to pay for someone to work there and set up all new phone lines. It seems crazy to me. How is this saving money?
“The new one will be a mile away so there does not seem any point.
“The closure of the post office will put the village shop in jeopardy. The woman who runs it is incredibly popular and everything she had got is invested in that shop. I don't think the shop will be viable after the post office closes.”
A Post Office spokesman said: “Post Office Ltd has decided to introduce a Partner Service which will be operated from Stonham Barns and will offer a range of the most commonly used Post Office products and services, including collecting cash using Post Office everyday banking services.
Our aim is for 99percent of the UK population to be within three miles and 90pc of the population to be within 1 mile of their nearest Post Office branch.”
How have post office closures affected you? Write to: Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk>
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