Over 1,500 Petition Signatures for New Costessey Post Office

7.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd Jul 2008

Since the news broke last Tuesday over the proposal to close New Costessey Post Office, the local community has given a massive show of support for their local branch. More than 1,500 people have already signed a petition in opposition to the closure.

Over 2,500 households near to the post office have received letters urging people to get involved in a campaign to save the branch. Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, sent out the letters and petition slips.

Mr Wright said:

"It has been just over a week since we learnt that New Costessey Post Office was facing closure, but in that short space of time the community has sent a strong signal of support. It is fantastic that already over 1,500 people have signed the petition."

"There is huge anger at the unfairness of the closure programme. People are asking how can it be that just a few weeks ago, Post Office Ltd was keen to retain New Costessey Post Office as part of a viable network, and yet now it has changed its mind? The Government is forcing the Post Office Ltd to identify 2,500 post offices nationwide to close, and this target is driving everything to the detriment of communities such as New Costessey."

"This sense of injustice is one of the factors that has really galvanised the community."