Suffolk: Petitions launched to save popular postmen

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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THREE Suffolk villages are fighting to keep their much-treasured and long-serving postmen.

Residents in Chelmondiston, Harkstead and Stutton have launched petitions to try and stop them being moved to different patches.

Shaun Woods and Karl Quinton - who have clocked up 25 years of servicve between them - are believed to be among around two hundred postmen from Ipswich Delivery Office who have been re-shuffled.

More than two-hundred residents in the Chelmondiston and Harkstead areas have put their signatures to a ‘Save our Shaun’ petition.

Meanwhile two petitions have been launched in Stutton - one at the community shop and another at Looking Good hairdressers - to save Mr Quinton.

Susie Patten, the sub post mistress at Chelmondiston Post Office, said: “The strength of feeling is really high – it’s the talk of the village right now.

“Shaun knows literally everyone round here and always does his job with a smile on his face. He is very popular.

“Not only that but he knows where every house in the area is, including those which are tucked away down country lanes and don’t have numbers.

“That local knowledge is invaluable. It would take a new person years to learn it. We just feel it makes sense to keep Shaun here.”

Jacqui Martin, who also signed the petition, and is taking part in a protest march on Saturday, added: “We’re doing all we can to keep him. We’ll be sending the petition to the chief executive of the Post Office and the delivery manager in Ipswich. Hopefully it can make a difference.”

Terry Livermore, 71, of Cattsfield, Stutton, paying tribute to Mr Quinton, said: “The community is going to miss him a great deal - everyone thinks the world of him.”

Mr Quinton, who is moving to serve Kirton, said: “It keeps me going with a smile on my face knowing that there are people who appreciate what I do.”

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “The changes in Ipswich Delivery Office are part of Royal Mail’s much-needed £2 billion modernisation programme, including the introduction of new automated machinery and delivery equipment and changes in the way our people work.

“We are confident that customers on these particular rounds will continue to receive an excellent service from Royal Mail.”

[gideon 60]

coming from the same office i don,t agree with the walks increasing in size after this revision, but resigns do come along now and again, its a fact of life.