Talks continue over sorting offices

Shropshire's postal service workers were today continuing crisis talks with union leaders over plans to close two of the county's sorting offices.

Staff at Church Stretton's Royal Mail delivery office met with Communication Workers' Union representative Peter Kelly to decide what action can be taken against the proposal yesterday.

And workers from the Ellesmere delivery office were due to meet today.

The meetings follow an announcement by Royal Mail last week that delivery offices at Ellesmere and Church Stretton are set to close next month.

The move would mean workers in Church Stretton would be transferred to Craven Arms eight miles away and Ellesmere staff having to travel to Oswestry, nine miles away to work.

Mr Kelly said the closure was unfair on staff who would have to make plans to travel further at short notice.

Speaking of the Church Stretton meeting, he said: "We are still fighting the closure. We are going to put as much resistance as we can to the closure because we don't think Royal Mail has thought this out properly.

"We believe that it is going to have a significant effect on the economy of the town in terms of those jobs disappearing from the town."

Both offices are due to close on May 11.

The announcement has caused a public outcry among members of the public.

Officials from the Royal Mail confirmed that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the shake up.

Poppy Brady, for Royal Mail, said: "The move will remove any duplication of work and reduce the need to convey any 'mis sorted' mail between the two sites.

"There will not be any compulsory redundancies as a result of this move and staff will enjoy an improved standard of health and safety.

"Royal Mail will also reimburse our people for any extra mileage caused by the changes in their place of work."

By Sophie Bignall