You wouldn’t believe it, would you? The new Morrisons Daily on Burnt Ash Road has a huge poster in its window saying “Proud to serve the community of Lee Garden.” Garden, not Green.
You might not have noticed it yesterday because it was partially hidden behind the flower buckets at the front. But today it’s impossible to miss.
The assistants in the shop – which is a franchise – told us the sign was installed by Morrisons head office. “Nothing to do with us,” they said.
The new Morrisons Daily has opened, festooned with balloons, in the premises previously occupied by the Lee Off-Licence. It’s open from 7 AM to 11 PM daily.
At first glance it seems to be well stocked with basic essentials, including fruit, vegetables and flowers, as well as selling fresh bread, croissants and pastries. We will be interested to receive feedback from shoppers.
It ‘s also offering hot food like bacon and sausage baps, and has a coffee machine. Let’s hope the new competition doesn’t affect the existing business which have been there for many years: the newsagents and convenience store opposite and the café next door.
Lee is set to get at least one of the new style futuristic post boxes which are being rolled out nationwide.
The boxes are modified so as well as taking letters, they also take small parcels up to the size of a shoebox. Parcels go in a new drop-down drawer that opens when you scan in a barcode. They are solar powered and equipped with a 4G aerial to validate the barcodes.
Only newer boxes installed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which have a jutting out aperture, are suitable for conversion.
Matt Proctor, a member of theLetter Box Study Group, says only a handful of local boxes in Lee are likely to be converted., However, one on Effingham Road at the junction with Wantage Road has already been sealed up prior to the changeover.
Awaiting conversion – the Effingham Road post box. Photo: David Ford
He says other local potential candidates for conversion include:
at the bottom of Lee Terrace
on Lee Road (near Priory Park)
at the Old Tigers Head junction (near the Post Office)
Woodyates Road
David Ford has asked Royal Mail for reassurance that the “heritage” post boxes – installed under the reign of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII – will be preserved. Lee Manor has several heritage boxes including a Victorian one on Handen Road, and Edward VII ones on Southbrook and Micheldever Roads.
Below are some photos of the exhibition which has been mounted by the doctor’s grand-daughter Charlotte Mann. The house was also the family home, with an enormous garden.
