Skegness Magazine

Source: Skegness News (story ran in 1930 as a flashback to 1905)

REMOVAL OF THE SKEGNESS POST OFFICE
The rapid growth of the population, the extension of the town and the increasing number of visitors and excursionists to our popular seaside resort, during the past few years, has rendered it imperatively necessary n for new and commodious premises to be provided for the transaction of the postal and telegraph business. It is only about a decade since that the post-office was removed from nearly the eastern end of Lumley Road to its present position, and it was thought chat the accommodation then provided would’ be sufficient for the requirements of the town for many years to come. The postal and telegraph businesses have, however, increased to a greater extent than was anticipated, and within the last four or five years another department has been added to it, namely the telephone. In the busiest part of the season during the last year or so all three departments have been working at high pressure, and the accommodation four the public at the present Post Office has been most inadequate and frequently called forth loud complaints from the visitors. ‘The Postal Authorities in London were appealed to on the subject and, seeing the necessity for increased accommodation, they set to work considering the best means of providing the same. The question of enlarging the present premises was considered, but the great outlay it would necessitate caused the abandonment of this idea. Another site offered the authorities was, we understood, a house and premises in the centre of Lumley Road and at the corner of Lumley Avenue. This position is in the centre of the town and would no doubt have been approved by everyone, but the negotiations in regard to it for some reason fell through. There was, therefore, no other course now open but to look out for a suitable site elsewhere, and remove the Post Office from Lumley Road, where it had been for a quarter of a century, and ever since the street was built.
The postal authorities ultimately selected the vacant piece of land on the Roman Bank at the corner of Algitha Road, on which to erect, or get erected, suitable premises. This it appears, is the only site that could be obtained near the business part of the town, and it is less than one hundred yards from the present Post Office, and, under the circumstances, is the most suitable position that could he obtained, This piece of land 1 belongs to Mr. J. H. Canning, builder, who will erect the building according to plans approved by the Post Office Authorities; he will bear the entire cost of the work and the authorities have agreed to take it on a lease for 21 years. The new building will be of sufficient capacity to meet the growing requirements of the place for many years.

NEW POST OFFICE,
Skegness, Jan 25th, 1905.
Sir ,–The grumble against the Post Office being removed one hundred yards is absurd, and the flimsy reason given, scarcely conceals the real motive. Because there is absolutely no room in Lumley Road (and there really is not) for a proper and suitable building, must it not be allowed anywhere else? Are developments in Skegness to be stopped, except such, as can be put in Lumley Road, and is the World to stand still because Lumley Road is full ?
The world, they say, is, after all, only very small, but nobody ever imagined it so microscopical that a hundred yards or so seriously affected its centre of gravity.
Yours faithfully,
J. H. CANNING.