New Falmouth post office opens amid safety concerns

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The new Falmouth post office on Market Strand has opened for business, and while some say access is an accident waiting to happen others hope it could give a boost to traders.

This was the third time Post Office Ltd had tried to move to the site from their previous home on The Moor, however their plans were shot down in 2004 and 2008 due to a backlash from customers.

This time round objections were put forward by the police, councillors, and the town’s MP Sarah Newton, alongside a vocal band of protestors who said the plans would be “playing Russian roulette with lives”.

The main concerns highlighted were the narrowness of the pavements and the high amount of traffic coming round a nearby corner and down the Old High Street, which objectors said would make access both difficult and dangerous to elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers.

With the stores doors now open and staff welcoming customers, the Packet asked people what their first reaction to the new post office was.

Many people agreed that the main concern was the access, and while the Packet was speaking to customers, droves of elderly people could be seen crossing the road on a blind corner to enter the post office.

Jim McKenna, 70, said: “I don’t think it was a good idea, to get across the road you have got to have eyes in the back of your head. Some people, in particular the elderly, will not find it easy.

“However the service is still the same and the staff are very helpful.”

Maddy Jarvis said: “It is nice inside, but with the way things are at the moment what happens if this shop shuts in 12 months, where will it go then. The girls are just as helpful as ever, they are very good with the customers so I hope it works out.”

A construction worker working nearby highlighted what many felt would be the major problem, large trucks negotiating the tight bend.

He said: “One of them has already nearly hit one of our staff. The corner is narrow and they mount the pavement right outside the shop.”

Many customers called for a safe road crossing nearby.

Not everyone was so negative, Michael McKenna, 86, said: “The positives are that it is an improvement for the staff. There is more daylight and that should boost morale.”

The move seems to have also had a knock on effect on trading on the Old High Street, increasing foot-fall as shoppers are drawn by the Post Office to this part of town.

Nick Dobson from Kitchen and Gifts said: “It has been really good for the High Street already. We have seen people come in to the shop that we have never seen before.

Andrew Dash, from the company that owns the new Londis store said they had already been getting plenty of positive feedback.

“It has been very positive and people are very pleased about how the post office looks. I have had a chat with councillor Saunby about his concerns and said that we need to work together to address any issues about safety, where we can.

He added that he was pleased the new store and post office had given a boost to that area of town, saying: “Hopefully we can bring more people to this area and to the traders.”

The move sees the end of an era for Falmouth as the last vestiges of the old Post Office headquarters disappears.

The old post office building on The Moor opened in 1930 and closed it's doors for the final time at 1pm on Saturday after serving the people of the town Falmouth for 81 years.

In it’s early days, it was also the sorting office, with urgent packages and telegrams delivered by the telegram boys on motorcycles, while upstairs housed a post office telecommunications centre.