Norwich MP Clive Lewis hoping to save Lakenham post office

The branch, located inside Spice Express Norwich convenience store in Queens Road, closed permanently on April 28 "following the resignation of the postmaster", according to a poster on the shop's door.

Letters have been sent to people living in the area from Norwich South MP Clive Lewis, asking for their views on whether or not the community needs a post office.

The post office closed on April 28 after a poster on the shop window said the postmaster had resigned (Image: Newsquest)

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In the letter the Labour MP also asked if people wanted it to reopen in its previous dwelling or open at a new location.

According to Mr Lewis, the response has been overwhelmingly positive towards reopening the service.

Mr Lews said: "Almost everyone who's contacted me about the campaign so far has said they want the post office to stay in the community.

Clive Lewis, Norwich South MP, said that almost everybody who's contacted him want the post office to stay (Image: UK Parliament)

"As has been shown repeatedly, local post offices are so much more than just a place to take things to be posted.

"They're community hubs relied on by some of the most isolated and vulnerable of our fellow citizens.

"The draw of a post office benefits neighbouring small businesses too."

The termination of the post office last month was deemed "a huge blow" to the Lakenham community, with both locals and businesses in the area left lamenting the closure.

Alfie Guerreiro, co-owner of Luso Brazilian Taste café and restaurant, said the closure of the post office was really bad for the area (Image: Newsquest)

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Alfie Guerreiro, co-owner of Luso Brazilian Taste cafe and restaurant, located next to where the post office was, said: "It's really bad for the area.

"People still come in and see if we know where the post office has gone, or if it's moved to another nearby location."

Rachel Bond, 61, lives in Lakenham and added: "It seemed to be a popular facility used by the community but it seems like it just closed overnight."

The post office used to be located inside the Spice Express Norwich convenience store, along Queens Road in Lakenham (Image: Newsquest)

The downfall of post offices

There has been a sharp decline in the number of post offices in recent years.

Citizens Advice published a paper in January 2022 which revealed that 206 post offices had closed in the last two years, the equivalent of two closing each week. 

In total 1,291 post offices in Britain were "temporarily closed" in September 2021, nearly twice as many as the 662 closed in September 2017. 

However, more than eight in 10 of those were closed for more than a year.