Suffolk MP visits threatened post office

[johnnyp]

Suffolk MP visits threatened post office
08 December 2007 | 07:41

DANIELLE NUTTALL
A SUFFOLK MP has made a visit to a threatened village post office to discuss the problems the community faces if it closes.

Suffolk Coastal MP John Gummer attended Nacton Post Office yesterday to meet owners Paula and Robert Warner.

The post office, which is part of the village's Orwell Stores, is one of 67 earmarked for closure across Suffolk and east Essex.

Mr Gummer is campaigning against the cutbacks and is concerned about the problems the Nacton closure will bring to elderly people in the village, local schools and the damage it will cause community life.

The MP also claims the closure will result in about 27.5 tonnes of extra carbon emissions because mail is delivered by cycles.

He has now written to Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail, and Pat McFadden, the Government minister in charge of the programme of closure, with his concerns.

Speaking after the visit last night, Mr Gummer said: “I talked to a large number of customers who came by, particularly older people who will suffer if the post office closes.

“Nacton is one which ought not to close, not least because the post office from which mail is delivered is by bicycle so you would have to rely on vans.

“If we are going to fight climate change we don't do that by closing post offices and making people travel more in their cars.

“The closure will endanger the shop which is the only shop in Nacton.â€