David Ruffley is seeking confirmation from the leader of the Post Office National Consultation Team that St Olaves Post Office in Bury St Edmunds will remain open. This follows concern expressed to him by his constituents in the St Olaves area of the town.

Local residents collected nearly 200 signatures on a petition protesting against the continued cutting back of Post Office services which could lead to more post office closures. They are worried that Mr Neil Clarke, the sub-postmaster at St Olaves may be forced to close if his business becomes unviable.

The text of David's letter to the Post Office is below.

David said: 'If St Olaves Post Office closes it will be a huge blow to the area. The post office is a popular and key community resource which the town can ill afford to lose. Changes in the method of payment of pensions and benefits as a result of Government policy has taken away from post offices not only the income they earned from processing the payments but also the additional income they generated from customers who also did some of their shopping at the post office. I am asking the national Post Office for confirmation that they have no plans to close St Olaves Post Office. Too many local post offices have been under threat of closure- we don't want to lose another one.'

To: Mrs Jane Lynskey, National Consultation Team Leader, Post Office Ltd.

My constituents in the St Olaves area of Bury St Edmunds are extremely concerned about the future of St Olaves Post Office.

The strength of feeling and the popularity of this local sub-post office is demonstrated by the attached petition which local residents have sent to me. It states: 'We the undersigned signify our protestation against the continued cutting back of Post Office Services which could lead to more Post Office closures.'

Although St Olaves Post Office is very well supported by my constituents in the area, they are worried that Mr Neil Clarke, the sub-postmaster, may be forced to close as his profits dwindle. Other post offices in Bury St Edmunds have either closed or been under threat of closure and my constituents are very anxious that St Olaves Post Office should remain open.

I should be grateful if you could respond by giving me your unconditional confirmation that St Olaves Post Office will be kept open and that you have no current or future plans to deprive my constituents of this key community resource. Pensioners and younger parents rely on the social support that is provided at this most important town post office.