Post Office Proposal For City Hall

11.46.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 29th Jan 2008

Post Offices

Campaigners have welcomed the latest efforts to improve the state of the Post Office network in Norwich. At tonight's full meeting of Norwich City Council, Lib Dem Town Close Councillor Felicity Hartley will question whether post office facilities could be made available at City Hall.

Councillor Hartley commented "Members of the public who need to use Post Office facilities in the city centre have no alternative to queuing at the main Post Office which is tucked away in Castle Mall. A facility in City Hall would be extremely useful"

Last year, a city-wide petition calling on the Government to halt plans to close post offices in Norwich was launched by Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South. The petition has received well over 1,000 signatures so far.

"I would welcome efforts to open additional post offices in Norwich," says Mr Wright. "The latest round of post office closures have nothing to do with a lack of demand for post office facilities - you only need to see at the long queues at the Castle Mall Post Office for proof of that. We need more post offices, not fewer. I think we should all resist attempts to close our post offices in Norwich, and in addition call on the Government to open new ones where they're needed."

Councillor Hartley will ask the following question tonight "With the possible imminent closure of Post Offices across the city, would the Executive Member consider approaching the Post Office with an offer of accommodation at City Hall, thus returning to the public the opportunity of an easily accessible Post Office in the City Centre?"

Post Office Ltd will release details in March of its closure programme for Norfolk, which will then be followed by a public consultation.