Petition plea to save Grimston post office

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NEARLY 1,000 people have signed a petition aimed at saving the post office in Grimston.

Residents and post workers oppose a Royal Mail proposal to relocate a mail sorting room attached to the village post office to Lynn.

The owner of the village store which incorporates the post office, Peter Joyce, said the loss of the sorting room and four staff would undermine the viability of the sub-post office.

He said the sorting facility was doubled in size at a cost of about £40,000 about seven years ago.

The post office was currently being run by temporary staff but his brother, Steven, had moved to the area intending to train as sub-postmaster, said Mr Joyce.

The petition was presented to NW Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, who said the investment in the office by the Royal Mail was a key factor.

“It’s a great deal of money which was spent to ensure local people got a really good service. Closing it and concentrating sorting entirely at Lynn would lead to a reduction in the level of service that people receive,” he said.

Mr Bellingham said he was writing to the chief executive and the regional manager of the Royal Mail, sending them a copy of the petition and asking them to think again.

Communication Workers’ Union representative Simon Peach said the sorting office generated income for the post office. Without it, the post office would no longer be viable.

“The village is completely behind them,” said Mr Peach.

Royal Mail spokesman Sally Hopkins said: “We announced in October that we are planning to relocate Grimston delivery office to Lynn delivery office early next year. This is in response to falling mail volumes as well as to improve working conditions and secure employment for our staff, and provide a more cost-effective operation.”

Detailed planning for the move had been taking place to ensure a smooth transition. “We have worked with our staff and the unions on the change and have given them the opportunity to discuss the implications individually,” she said.

Royal Mail appreciated that the move would impact on customers in the area and welcomed their feedback “Our planning activities always give due consideration as to how we can best protect and serve the interest of our customers,” she said.

If the move went ahead, mail that was undelivered as customers were not home to sign for them or items that were too big for a letterbox could still be collected from Grimston post office.