A survey into the future of four threatened Ipswich post offices carried out by Ipswich MP Chris Mole and Labour councillors has shown that residents overwhelmingly want to keep their post offices open.

Nearly 300 residents have responded to the survey so far, with more forms being returned every day, but early results show that 95% of people responding want to keep their post office open.

Of the people responding to the survey nearly 60% use their post office at least once a week. The top five uses that residents make of their post offices are: posting letters (45%), buying stamps (35%), paying bills or rent (32%), collecting pension (21%) and paying car tax (19%).

More than half of people responding say that if their post office closed they will use Tower Ramparts Post Office. Many people expressed concern that Tower Ramparts already suffers from long queues. Worryingly, 14% of respondents, mainly pensioners, say they do not know which alternative they would be able to use if their current post office closed.

A large majority (93%) of residents also believe that Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council should do more to help threatened post offices stay open.

Chris Mole MP said: "The results of our survey show clearly that the four threatened post offices are much loved community facilities. I am particularly worried about the impact on pensioners if these post offices close and the large numbers of extra people using Tower Ramparts and Carr Street will mean queues get even longer. I will be writing to the Post Office detailing the results of our survey and calling on them to think again about closing post offices in Ipswich."

 Chris outside Fore Street Post Office with local councillor Kevan Lim