This is a very well run and used post office. The proposal to close it would seriously inconvenience local residents.

This post office serves three schools on the Chalkstone estate. This post office also serves parents who pick their children up from the adjacent Chalkstone Middle School, some of whom save themselves a double journey by accessing the post office either before or after they drop off or pick up their children from school.

This post office serves the elderly and the disabled, who are unable to quickly access the main post office in Haverhill High Street, which has somewhat limited vehicle access because of the access time in the High Street, although pay-as-you park is nearby which would add on more cost to the person using this post office.

The Post Office says that the high street post office is 0.8 miles away from Chalkstone Post Office, which might be the case, but to a number of residents the distance that they, as customers, would have to travel is far greater.

This will only encourage more people to use their cars as against just walking down to Strasbourg Square. With the post office being situated at the Londis Store, this also has other benefits to residents which the main post office in Haverhill High Street does not offer, ie the sale of other requisites.

There is also the fact that a parent may feel safer with their child going to the post office in Strasbourg Square for a post office requisite, ie stamps or postal orders etc, as against letting their child go to the main post office in Haverhill High Street.

Added to which council tax payment may be made at any post office, which will also affect residents, who find it easier to access the Chalkstone post office. To this end I have contacted Richard Spring MP with a view of hopefully putting pressure on the post office to reconsider their proposal to close the Chalkstone estate post office.

At the time of writing Mr Spring has agreed to a meeting on Friday April 4, in Strasbourg Square at 3.15pm, hopefully to take on board residents’ concerns over this proposed closure and to take them to the post office for their re-consideration.

All concerned are very welcome to attend and to express their views. For me this proposal warrants a red card.

CLLR Gordon Cox,

Hundon Place,

Haverhill.

I AM writing to say that I have only recently started using the Chalkstone post office as I didn't know it was there, until someone told me of this little gem of a place where you get served quickly.

I feel a lot of people don’t even realise that it’s there.

I’m sure that, with a bit of advertising, Chapple Drive estate and Boyton Hall estate would use it frequently.

There are so many times where I just need to post something quickly and haven’t much time.

The Chalkstone post office is perfect as it’s always easy to park (free!!) and you get served very quickly, politely and the staff are very helpful.