Post office move to go ahead despite objections

The Post Office says moving to new premises would allow the branch to open for longer

A post office will be moved away from a town's high street, despite campaigners calling the plans "flawed and irresponsible".

North Lowestoft Post Office in Suffolk is set to move to Bushells Bakery, Tennyson Road, next year.

The Post Office said moving about 300m - less than a quarter of a mile - to a new site would allow it to be open for longer and feature more modern facilities.

But opponents said they were very disappointed by the decision, saying it would "be a backward step and rip the heart out of the community".

The Post Office said the date of the move to Bushells Bakery was still to be finalised but would be announced in the near future

The Post Office said the current branch was operated by a temporary postmaster but that this arrangement was not sustainable.

"The relocation would enable us to maintain a Post Office service to our customers in the local community in the longer term," it said.

"With any relocation it is inevitable that while some customers will have an easier journey to the new location, it will regrettably mean a longer or less convenient journey for some customers."

It said a review of parking showed the Tennyson Road pay and display car park, with disabled spaces, was located opposite the proposed premises

Opponents said there had been a branch on the High Street for at least 110 years and they had been urging people to register their views in a consultation and via a local petition.

Christine Newman, co-chair of the Most Easterly Community Group, said: "We are very disappointed by this move which we feel will rip the heart out of the community.

"We feel that this is a very backward step and a real blow to our High Street."

The bakery premises are due to undergo a full refurbishment to incorporate North Lowestoft Post Office and there would be a post office serving point.

The Post Office said the same range of products and services would be available, plus an extra 16 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service per week, including Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, and earlier opening times.