Sadness at post office closure
POOR health has succeeded in forcing the closure of St Germans Post Office where the recent Government axe failed.
The popular post office in Lynn Road escaped the round of closures earlier in the year, but now has to close because Mrs Lorna Kirby (57), who has run it for the last seven years, has developed a rare form of cancer.
But yesterday a spokesman for the Post Office said it was hoping to re-open a branch in the area following the closure, which he called temporary, and that anyone interested could apply.
There were no plans for it to close permanently.
The existing post office will finally shut its doors on Tuesday, January 6, and the shop housing it will then close on Friday, January 9.
Mrs Kirby’s husband, Roger, also 57, told the Lynn News the couple were sad to see it go.
“This is a well-used facility which we have built up with the support of local people,” he said.
The couple had tried to sell the business as a going concern, but had been let down. Now they would be converting the premises into living accommodation, but wanted to thank all their customers for their loyalty.
In part, Mr Kirby blamed the Government for taking services away from rural post offices.
It was hopeful, he said, the facility could be retained. Suggestions had already been made that it might be able to go in the village pub or methodist chapel.
St Germans Post Office hit the headlines earlier this year because assistant Miss Sharon Cannell (22), who stepped into the breach when Mrs Kirby became ill, beat thousands of nominees to make it to the final in the leadership and excellence category of the Post Office Chairman’s Awards.
At the time, she spoke in support of local post offices saying: “Village post offices are important. Lots of older people can’t make it into town.”
The Lynn News had reported how the axe would be falling on 19 post office branches in West Norfolk as part of a controversial, cost-cutting closure programme.
The decision was taken despite a Lynn News Save Our Post Offices campaign which saw 1,747 signatures collected for a petition and a further 610 names added to Counter Attack coupons in the paper.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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