| Save Our Rural Post Offices |
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| Since I became MP for Bury St Edmunds in 1997 I have been campaigning tirelessly for the maintenance of the rural post office network. They are a crucial community resource, particularly for our older citizens. |
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| Sicklesmere Post Office was on the verge of closing when the Great and Little Whelnetham Parish Council and Sicklesmere Sub Postmistress Patricia Larman asked for my help. |
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| Since last autumn I personally intervened as the MP and striven to keep the parties involved talking and keeping negotiations open. I intervened with senior Post Office executives at a high level to buy more time in an effort to keep Sicklesmere Post Office open. |
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| I knew that by publicising the plight of Sicklesmere we might attract financial help from bodies outside the Post Office. This is what has now happened. |
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| I was able to negotiate with Nick Martin, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Economic Development Officer, who came forward with an offer of around £6,500 of funding to help to keep this Post Office open. I contacted the Countryside Agency to conclude a deal with them to grant money from their budget for Sicklesmere Post Office, which will involve new equipment and building alterations. |
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| The moral of the story is that if you want to fight for your villages amenities you can win in the end. |
