VILLAGERS FACE TWO HOUR POST OFFICE JOURNEY
SOME people in West Walton will be faced with a two-hour return trip to get to a post office if the planned closure of the River Road branch goes ahead.
County councillors have produced a dossier detailing the reasons why 53 Norfolk post offices should be saved.
The dossier includes concerns for villagers in West Walton who would face a long trek to access post office services.
It will be submitted to the Post Office by Norfolk County Council as the deadline for comments on the controversial closure programme was Monday.
The report says the closures will lead to a reduction in the quality of life of local residents and have a significant impact on thousands of local people and businesses.
Officers have compiled information from a number of sources for keeping branches open.
In the case of West Walton, the report notes that with no suitable bus service available, households without access to a car will be unable to access alternative branches at Walton Highway and Old Walsoken.
The report concludes: "The decision to close the West Walton branch and suggestion that customers would use Walton Highway as a suitable alternative branch has raised serious concerns about the way in which the decision making process has been taken.
"Also, whilst Old Walsoken is accessible via public transport, the round trip would take two hours, which is unreasonable."
County councillors have been working with district colleagues, the Norfolk Rural Community Council, affected postmasters and protest groups to present the strongest possible evidence to keep as many post offices open as possible.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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