Page 4 - Town & Around - May 2024

4 Town & Around May 2024 Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
Local Post Office faces threat of closure

Mackenzie Large
ersingham Post Office has been
owned by Fraser Lindsay’s family
Dsince 1979. Fraser, who has been the
sub-postmaster since 2002, alongside his wife
Maria, have provided the local community
with useful and important services for over
two decades. However, a number of
occurrences in recent years have hugely
impacted their small business, which now
faces the threat of closure.

sub-postmaster who is already struggling less: Fraser used to issue “around 300 car
Fraser Lindsay because of expenditure going up and income taxes a month”, but now this figure is just 30.
Royal Mail relocated the sorting going down.” Royal Mail and Parcelforce postal services are
office to King’s Lynn The majority of the post office’s customers available at Dersingham Post Office, as well
In September 2023, nine post workers were are from the older generations. As the as it being an Amazon Pick Up and Drop Off
population of this demographic declines, the
Hub. Dersingham Post Office is open 6 days
relocated from Dersingham Post Office to a post office’s services are being used less and a week, with half days on Wednesdays and
sorting office in King’s Lynn. This decision, less. With the evolving digital climate offering Saturdays (9-12:30pm).
which was made by Royal Mail, meant that more and more, Fraser worries that people
Fraser and Maria lost nearly half of the may forget the value of choosing the in- Counterfeit stamps
income generated by their post office. person option for their services. There has been a recent influx of counterfeit
Fraser mentions how, as a small business stamps, as reported by the mainstream media.
“only just surviving”, increases in minimum Services available at The stamps, which look practically identical
wage can further exacerbate the already- to genuine ones, result in the recipients of the
challenging financial viability of his post Dersingham Post Office post being charged a £5 fee. To avoid
office’s operations. Fraser employs three To combat the challenges they face, purchasing fake stamps, get them from your
members of staff, so the extra cost incurred Dersingham Post Office needs individuals to local post office!
from the recent increase in the minimum use their services. Fraser says, “we are going If Dersingham Post Office does not get
wage has a significant impact on small to keep going as long as we can, but we need enough custom, Fraser and Maria will be
businesses and the future of Dersingham Post people to use the services more than ever.” forced to close. Not only does Fraser not want
Office. Fraser and Maria are able to offer banking
services for most high street banks, including to see his family-run business close, but he
Trust in the Post Office Brand personal and business banking, cash deposits also does not want to see locals lose services
‘The Post Office Scandal’ is a story that most, and withdrawals and deposits of cheques. that some of them rely on! Let us remember
the old adage “you don’t know what you’ve
if not all, British households are familiar with With local banking branches closing down, got until it’s gone” and support our local post
by now. Not only was Fraser subject to this service is even more valuable for office whilst we still can!
failures by the IT system, but he now worries individuals who might not be able to travel to
that the scandal will impact the trust that their nearest branch. Fraser mentions how What can the community do?
customers have in his family-run business. using the post office for banking services is With fewer and fewer local services like
Fraser recognises that “people have lost trust “safe and secure”, it does not incur a charge butchers, bakers and greengrocers, would
in the Post Office brand” but wants to remind like many ATMs, and customers are able to losing our post office be the final stage
them that “the Post Office Scandal is not the request any denomination of money. marking the end of local businesses
sub-postmasters’ fault - we are victims as Dersingham Post Office can also issue altogether? We must, as Fraser says, “USE IT
well”. He adds, “if people boycott their local holiday currencies, travel money cards and OR LOSE IT”.
post office,… it hurts the income of your local car tax, services which are also being used