Photo opportunity - Monday 14 June, 3.30pm: Council Leader Cllr John Griffiths, Cllr Peter Stevens and Scott Chapman, proprietor of the Queen’s Head Public House in Hawkedon, at the opening of Hawkedon Post Office next to the pub.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has helped to save a vital rural service by giving £5,000 to help set up a new Post Office. The money is part of a successful funding partnership with the Countryside Agency, Post Office Counters and the proprietor of the Queen’s Head Public House in Hawkedon, which has led to the reopening of a Post Office in the village.
When Hawkedon Post Office closed at the end of December 2003 there were concerns about the loss of this vital service to the local community. Scott Chapman, proprietor of the Queen’s Head, came to the rescue by offering one of his outbuildings as a new location and now the local Post Office will be opening its doors once again to customers on Monday 14 June – demonstrating what can be achieved when the will is there.
Cllr John Griffiths, Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council said:
“I am delighted that residents of Hawkedon will continue to have their own post office; the Borough Council is keen to support the retention of these key rural services, which are an indelible part of the community fabric.”
St Edmundsbury’s support for the reopening Hawkedon post office reflects the commitment to safeguarding rural services such as shops and post offices by supporting existing facilities or encouraging new ones which is a key element of St Edmundsbury’s Local Plan and rural policies.
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIA ETHRIDGE, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033 maria.ethridge@stedsbc.gov.uk
