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Bury Free Press, 6 September 2004 |
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A POST office, saved after months of wrangling, re-opened in its new home on Wednesday. |
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MP David Ruffley carried out the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Moreton Hall Post Office. |
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It was forced to |
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relocate to the estate's commmunity centre after Tesco refused to retain the service having taken over the One Stop shop. |
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The supermarket giant is currently transforming the shop, in Lawson Place, into a Tesco Express store. |
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Residents on the Bury St Edmunds estate were angered after discovering plans to axe the service in favour of an in-store bakery. |
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Residents, councillors and Mr Ruffley met with Tesco representatives earlier this year to voice their anger. |
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After several more meetings, Tesco finally agreed to fully fund the post office's relocation. |
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Wednesday was a time for celebration, as councillors and representatives from Tesco and the Post Office attended the opening. |
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It was a double celebration for chairman of the Morton Hall Community Associaton Cllr Terry Buckle, who was also celebrating his birthday. |
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He said it had been a long and hard fight to keep a post office on the estate. "Once I get my teeth into something, I won't let it go," said Cllr Buckle. |
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"I'm very, very pleased that we have kept a post office on Moreton Hall. It's been a lifesaver for the whole of the estate." |
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Alan Lusher, retail sales manager of the Post Office, said it had been a major achievement. |
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"I am very pleased with the outcome," said Mr Lusher. |
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"The future of the post office now depends on the community. We've done everything we can to set up a good post office with a good postmaster." |
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Mr Ruffley said he was delighted that the campaign had been successful. "The large turnout of residents at the public meeting I called and chaired in February shows just what a popular community facility the post office is," he said. |
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