Calls grow louder for Diss Post Office move to be ditched
Plans to relocate Diss Post Office have been labelled as little more than a “smokescreen”, as opposition builds towards the institution leaving its Market Place home.
A second public consultation was launched last week to move the service 300 metres to the former Octagon Craft Gallery and Coffee Lounge at 35e Mere Street.
It comes after initial plans to relocate the branch to 5 Mere Street were seemingly abandoned after people raised a number of concerns over a lack of nearby parking.
Speaking to the Diss Express, Simon Olander called for the post office to be retained at its current home, where it has been for more than 70 years.
“There is nothing wrong with the current site,” said Mr Olander, who is a town councillor for Diss. “Nobody at Royal Mail has asked this branch to move so it is an individual’s decision, which will do nothing for the service.
“This consultation is another smokescreen and one which everyone should question.
“Queen Elizabeth II gifted Diss the current site in 1953 and I find it in very bad taste that, following her death, the Post Office wants to close it.
“It was given to the town to commemorate her coronation, so it should be left where it is.”
Diss Museum manager Basil Abbott agreed and called for the branch, which survived a closure attempt in 2017 thanks to a swathe of objections, to be retained.
He said: “Like the museum, the post office is a vital part of the town centre, helping to stem the economic drift to the south and maintaining the character of the Market Place.”
Reader Geoffrey Lazelle added: “Although the latest proposed site is larger than the previous one, it still does not enjoy the same parking facilities as the present site.
“Given the significant queues that seem to be a daily feature of the present site (mostly due to only two of the five positions being manned), I’d say the post office should stay where it is anyway, rather than move to smaller premises.
“This is especially so, since it is likely to be used to fill the gaps left by all the disappearing banks.”
Defending the proposals, the Post Office has said the current site is operating under a short-term contract and moving it would be “a more sustainable solution”.
Should the switch go ahead, the same range of Post Office services would be available, with the site open from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5.30pm, and on Saturdays, from 9am to 12.30pm.
People can give their views on the latest plans by going online to postofficeviews.co.uk, by emailing comments@postoffice.co.uk or by calling 03452 660115. The consultation closes on March 20.
