"Following the unexpected closure of the Post Office at St Olaves, I immediately liaised with the Post Office as well as Councillor Paul Hopfensberger and St Olaves local campaigner, Ernie Broom.
Subsequently, I met with representatives from the Post Office, in which they put on record an apology for the lack of notice of closure which was, in the circumstances, unavoidable.
During the meeting, I stressed the importance of access to local amenities in St Olaves, with alternative services at least half a mile away. Furthermore, I left representatives in no doubt that the loss of services from the very heart of a community like the one at St Olaves, is something I will fight against. I also fed into the meeting, ideas from the community itself as to potential options that might be explored.
The response from the Post Office has, so far, has been immediate and positive in seeking solutions. They are currently in talks with retailers and interested parties, and are committed to seeing the service return to the area as soon as possible.
I will, of course, continue to co-ordinate with the Post Office and with our local representatives to try and ensure the disruption in services is resolved quickly, and with the best interest of the whole community in mind.
In the meantime, for more information regarding alternative Post Office services, the nearest sites are Lake Avenue Post Office on Ridley Road and Bury St Edmunds Post Office in the Market Place.
Furthermore, if you are a person or business looking to register your interest in the site, please follow the link here at www.runapostoffice.co.uk"