Framlingham Post Office hit by Major Flood – Temporary Solution Sought to Restore Services to the Town

Framlingham Post Office is temporarily closed due to Storm Babet on Friday, which caused the nearby river to burst its banks.

 

This week, Postmaster Roger Tripp had been working hard to re-open his shop, which was submerged, with two foot of flood water. Sadly, yesterday he and other businesses in the town, heard from insurance assessors that it was black flood water – the most contaminated type and that the clean-up of the properties will take much longer than expected. Many affected businesses in the town may not be able to re-open until spring.

 

Post Office has been supporting the Postmaster to help mop-up the premises and to clear out damaged stock to try to restore service as soon as possible.

 

However, with the latest news, the focus is now searching for alternative premises for a temporary branch to restore Post Office services to the town, especially with Christmas fast approaching and as the last bank in town, closed in August.

 

Framlingham Post Office had been extra busy after the last bank closed, as they could provide business and personal banking on behalf of all of the High Street banks. Currently the nearest Post Office is at Wickham Market.

 

Postmaster Roger Tripp said: “Framlingham Post Office in Riverside is in a pretty location by the River Ore. Customers who are in their 80s and 90s, who have lived here all of their lives, have never experienced flooding. The river has got high before, but never flooded.

 

“I came into work as normal on Friday and it was raining. I thought nothing of it, but by 10.30 it was torrential rain. At 11.30am I was told to move my car from the car park, which was flooding, and a local mechanic helped me to move it to safety.

 

“The rain was continuing, so we started to get the shop ready to shut up. We started to move things higher, out of the way, then by 12 the water soon started to come in through the door and we had to get out. Many businesses and shoppers were affected. People had to go to the Crown Hotel for safety. Later people had to wade through thigh-high water. Local farmers were brilliant. Their tractors were the only vehicles that could get through and they took people safely home.

 

“The town of Framlingham has been devasted by the flood – so many businesses have been affected including the shoe shop and the solictors. We had hoped to quickly re-open and we were stunned to hear that would not be possible. Thankfully we are insured as this is not an area where flooding happens, but it was the sheer amount of water that quickly fell that caused the river to overflow, there are even floodplains along the river.

 

“I was all geared up for Christmas with cards and stationery, which has all been destroyed. Christmas orders are placed in February, so I can’t get replacements. The Post Office is at the heart of this community as we provide so many essential services, so people are looking to see the best way to re-open a temporary Post Office as soon as possible. People rely on the Post Office all-year round, but it is even busier at Christmas.”

 

Shervorne Page, Post Office Area Manager, said: “We know how important a Post Office is to a community. I really feel for Roger Tripp and the Framlingham community who have been stunned by the effects of this storm. I was at the branch this week, helping with the clear-up. Roger and other businesses were working flat out to try to quickly re-open, but sadly that is impossible because of the type of flood water. Now we are working hard to try to find a suitable place for a temporary Post Office.”

 

Royal Mail’s sorting office normally also operates alongside Framlingham Post Office and mail is having to be sorted by postal workers in other areas.