Town delivery office may close

A postal delivery office in a north Shropshire town could be closed, it was revealed today. Royal Mail has confirmed the Wem delivery office may be relocated to Shrewsbury.

It said a feasibility study was being carried out.

But it insisted no decisions had yet been made and reassured customers it was "business as usual".

Councillor Peggy Carson said staff were told on Tuesday that the delivery office, on the Wem Business Park, would close and services would be moved to Shrewsbury. She said it would be a "big loss" to the town.

Royal Mail spokesman Tom Prendergast said: "In a highly competitive postal market we need to constantly monitor and review our operations to ensure we can provide a high quality of service at a value for money price.

"As part of a general review of our services we have been looking at the possible relocation of our Wem delivery office operation to the delivery office at Shrewsbury and we are currently undertaking a feasibility study into the advantages and implications of such a move.

"We would emphasise that no decisions have been made at this stage and would reassure customers that it is business as usual in relation to their local services."

Communication Workers Union area delivery representative Pete Kelly said: "We have received no official proposals to close Wem delivery office.

"However, we are aware that Royal Mail have got plans as part of their savings and cost cuts exercise to look at the possibility of closing that unit and that we insist that Royal Mail speak to the union and members concerned to ensure that if any changes do occur that they involve the union and the staff and that they consult as far and wide as possible."