A village post office that is under threat of closure has been given support by MP James Wild.
Fraser Lindsay, sub-postmaster at Dersingham Post Office, had written to North West Norfolk MP Mr Wild for help after he received a letter of notice from Royal Mail notifying him that mail workers would be withdrawn from the post office in August.
This in turn would reduce the income Mr Lindsay relies on for the family business – which he now runs with his wife Maria, after it was started by his parents in 1979 – affecting their financial future.
Fraser and Maria Lindsay at the Post Office in DersinghamFraser and Maria Lindsay at the Post Office in Dersingham
Mr Wild said: “Post offices play a vital role in rural areas and when Fraser contacted me last month, I raised the impact of moving the mail sorting on the viability of his post office with Royal Mail.
“I recognise the value constituents place on the Dersingham Post Office and while ultimately this is a commercial issue I have asked Royal Mail’s chief executive to reconsider the plans, given the potential threat to the future of the business.
“Separately, I have also taken this up with the Post Office who have assured me that an area manager is supporting the sub-postmaster on options if the plans are implemented.”
In response to the statement from the MP, Mr Lindsay said: “We would like to thank James Wild for his help and support in realising the importance to the community and ourselves in trying to reverse the decision of Royal Mail.
“We hope he continues to put maximum effort into this situation.”
Mail workers will also be relocated to Hunstanton from the Heacham post office.
Sally Partyka, 52, sub-postmistress at Heacham Post Office, said: “We received the same letter from Royal Mail saying that the postmen will be relocating to Hunstanton on August 26.
“It is happening all over the country. My dad and granddad had this post office and it has been in the family since 1962.”
Sally Partyka, 52, sub-postmistress at Heacham Post Office, said: “We received the same letter from Royal Mail saying that the postmen will be relocating to Hunstanton on August 26.
“It is happening all over the country.
Heacham Post OfficeHeacham Post Office
“I have run it for the last four years.
“It will reduce our income by 50 per cent and we are planning to reduce our hours to keep overheads down.
“We will still do the counter services and banking for all major banks, particularly for Barclays customers since the Hunstanton branch closed.
“I will work more myself and I have two members of staff whose hours will be reduced and there may be longer queues so customers may have to wait.
“People are concerned we are closing but I will carry on, give it a go and see how it goes.
“I want to try and keep it going as main branch.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “Royal Mail has decided to relocate the sorting office currently based alongside Dersingham Post Office from August 26.
“Dersingham Post Office will remain open and we are working with the postmaster to limit the financial implications of this Royal Mail relocation.
“The Post Office area manager is supporting the postmaster to grow the business and in the near future will review whether there are opportunities for operational business efficiencies.”
The spokesperson clarified that it would be the Royal Mail mailwork facility used for mail collections and deliveries in the area that was at risk of closing – a decision made by Royal Mail.
A spokesperson from Royal Mail said: “Undelivered items will be taken back to the Lynn delivery office and can either be collected at the customer service point, or redelivered to either the person’s home address or to the Post Office in Dersingham for collection from there.”
Mr Lindsay is encouraging concerned residents to write to Mr Wild via james.wild.mp@parliament.uk who are concerned about the threat of closure.