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Please Can We Keep Our Post Office |
With the announcement that 69 Post Offices will close in our
region it is particularly saddening that Fakenham will loose
its branch in Wells Road.
This branch has served the community well over the years
enabling the disabled and those within the area to have
access to the many facilities that the Post Office provides.
Along with many Post Offices this branch is attached to an
excellent local grocery store which is in constant use by
passing trade, and no doubt the closure of the branch will
have a knock on effect with the viability of the store.
Yesterday I had a day off and I went out with my wife to
shop in Kings Lynn and then went for a car drive stopping
at various places along the coast, and then coming in land.
Making a de-tour through the countryside we came upon All
Saints Church next to the Old Rectory at Waterden. We
found a most beautiful little Church in the middle of a
field. Inside we could see Easter flowers, a welcoming
visitor book, and the knowledge that this Church was well
loved.
Purely on the basis of financial viability and church
attendance, the church along with hundreds in Norfolk,
should have been closed many years ago. How can you value a
spiritual centre and place open to the public for private
and reflection? The numerous boot prints by walkers outside
Waterden, showed how many visited the Church
Following a busy weekend which saw not only all the Easter
services and the Church full of people, we were so pleased
to have just a few moments to ourselves and to reflect on
the weekend. It was glorious just being there- I have say
together- (I hope Marian will not read this) without my sons
for a moment.
I realise that banks, shops, schools, pubs and post offices
all need to be viable, but if you take all of these
facilities out of village then what are you left with
nothing.
I hope that Diocese of Norwich does not go the same way as
governments and the Royal Mail, and just look at the
financial viability of local institutions. I would prefer to
pay more in Parish Share in Fakenham if the surrounding
village Churches could be allowed to survive. But let’s be
imaginative with buildings.
Few would understand that 8 years ago Fakenham Parish Church
was in reality bankrupt – we could not pay our Parish Share
and we could not fully insure the building. With the help of
Christmas Tree Festival, refreshments and stalls on a
Thursday, and many events throughout the year we are now
financially viable. Once buildings are closed it is almost
impossible to re-open them
Has anyone asked the local people if they would support
Royal Mail in creating imaginative schemes for use of
buildings as we have done in Fakenham Parish Church.
Closing shops, schools or a Post Office may seem an easy
solution but once a village or community area has lost these
facilities then the heart has gone out of the community.
Adrian Bell
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