Royal Mail to shut Llanidloes sorting office

A Mid Wales sorting office is to close in a cost-cutting move by Royal Mail.

But bosses said today the eight staff at the Llanidloes sorting office would move to the delivery office in Newtown.

The sorting office will close on June 13.

Town and county councillor Gareth Morgan said: "We have protested and had a meeting with Royal Mail, but they are determined to go ahead and close the building."

Ewen Davies, Royal Mail delivery sector manager, said the decision was prompted by the need to improve efficiency of Royal Mail operations.

He said the proposed move had been under consideration for some time, due to under-utilisation of the existing building and spare capacity at Newtown Delivery Office.

"The challenges facing Royal Mail since the opening up of the postal market and the increasing number of competitors vying for business customers, also requires us to improve efficiency and reduce costs, in order to secure future business and jobs," he said.

"We always consult with our staff and the postal workers union, the CWU, before making a decision and we are confident that the Llanidloes office move is the right one for both our people and our business.

"There will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of this move."