Waveney MP Peter Aldous and Councillor Graham Catchpole, Mayor of Beccles, have met with senior representatives of the East of England Co-operative Society to emphasise the importance of the Rigbourne Hill Post Office to the local area and to discuss how best to retain it.

They pointed out how many people, who do not have access to transport are dependent on the Post Office and the difficulties that they would face in getting to the Post Offices in the town centre or Worlingham. The Co-op explained that they are carrying out a 90 day consultation and there is a need for a sustained increase in use of the Post Office during that period if it is to be retained.

Graham Catchpole commented:- “I have been talking to the Senior Managers at the Co-op now since the end of May, they are very sympathetic to the case put forward for retaining the Post Office but stress that they can only look at it from a business view point. They would accept a break even situation financially but this will need a substantial increase in business at the Post Office counter, the situation will be kept under review until the end of August. We must not give up and need to keep looking for an answer to this problem. Keep up all the good campaigns to use the Post Office.”

Peter Aldous said:- “ I am grateful to the Co-op for listening to the concerns that the Mayor and I set out. The clear message coming out of the meeting is that it is vital for people to use the Post Office as much as they can if there is to be a chance of keeping it open.”

Councillor Catchpole and Peter Aldous will be meeting the Co-op again in a months time to review the position.