Councillors anger over post axe plan

Angry town councillors in Ellesmere will lobby Government ministers as part of their campaign against an "appalling" move by Royal Mail to close the town's delivery office.

At a meeting of Elles-mere Town Council last night, members vowed to write to ministers over the proposed closure and demand a meeting with Royal Mail bosses.

The action comes after the firm said it was reviewing operations and may close the Ellesmere facility.

The move would mean residents from the town having to travel 10 miles to Oswestry to collect mail that could not be delivered.

Councillors will also lobby north Shropshire MP Owen Paterson over the issue.

Peter Holloway, town clerk, said a petition circulating the town had gathered over 1,100 signatures against the potential closure.

He told councillors a letter he received from Royal Mail said the firm would consult with councillors once a decision had been made, but correspondence to Mr Paterson suggested the facility was safe from closure.

Councillor Ann Hartley said Ellesmere was a growing community that should be catered for.

"We had exactly the same situation three years ago and we were given all sorts of different stories from different people, and when we contacted Royal Mail they had not got figures and they had not thought it through," she said.

She added: "They seem to think they are going to do it behind our back; it will be World War Three if they do that, it's absolutely appalling."

Jaquie Stenson, Royal Mail spokeswoman said the firm was reviewing operations and would announce any decision that was made.