I AM one of the Cambridgeshire county councillors for Soham and Fordham villages and would wish to make the following representations regarding the proposal to close the Hall Street, Soham Post Office. It is proposed to retain the main Post Office in So
I AM one of the Cambridgeshire county councillors for Soham and
Fordham villages and would wish to make the following representations
regarding the proposal to close the Hall Street, Soham Post Office.
It is proposed to retain the main Post Office in Soham situated in the
High Street.
Soham is one of the fastest-growing towns in East Cambridgeshire,
itself one of the fastest growing districts in Cambridgeshire. The
Hall Street Post Office is situated towards the northern edge of
Soham. Most of the current housing developments are taking place on
the northern fringe of Soham. 350 houses on the north west of Soham,
currently getting towards completion together with approximately 150
new houses currently under construction on the old Griggs site on The
Shade, Soham close to the 350 houses referred to earlier. There is
also in-filling in other places in the area. The Hamlets of Barway,
Eye Hill and Barcham also look to the Hall Street, Soham Post Office.
To all these people, the Hall Street Post Office is the nearest Post
Office. The mention of Isleham Post Office in the consultation
leaflet, being 5.2 miles away, is in no way an alternative facility
which in addition to the distance is across the fen and the other side
of a very busy A142. The only alternative Post Office for all these
people living in the northern area of Soham is the Post Office in the
High Street. That brings me to the effect on the High Street, Post
Office. It already serves quite a wide area. Most of the town of
Soham, the village of Wicken, which does not have a Post Office, the
Hamlets of Padney and Upware look to Soham for its Post Office
facilities. There is further housing development under construction on
the old Lion Mills site, off Clay Street, Soham and there could well
be further housing proposed in the Station Road/Spencer Drove site
which would also look to the High Street Post Office. There is also a
degree of in-filling. At times there is already congestion at the High
Street Post Office with it being a relatively small shop and Post
Office. Let us just speculate what the congestion is likely to be when
and if the Hall Street, Post Office closes and the additional existing
and potential new people want Post Office facilities. The reference
in the consultation leaflet to other Post Office facilities in the
area at 2 Carter Street, Fordham, 19 High Street, Ely and 11 The
Causeway, Burwell cannot be taken seriously taking account of the
distances involved.
JOHN POWLEY
County councillor Soham and Fordham villages, Cambridgeshire County
Council.
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