Bid to get Shrewsbury removed from Wem's addresses fails again

Royal Mail has once again told Wem Town Council it will not be removing Shrewsbury from its postal addresses – despite a string of new complaints.

The council wrote to Royal Mail after people in Wem claimed their post had not arrived or they had received the wrong post because of confusion caused by Shrewsbury being in addresses for the town for many years.

The council has been told that “a postal address is not intended to describe a precise geographical or administrative area”.

Royal Mail added that changes could not be made unless an area is being re-coded for operational reasons.

The issue was discussed at the latest Wem Town Council meeting where members agreed to gather more evidence of the problems before it responded.

Pauline Dee, Shropshire councillor for Wem, said: "It is serious and very worrying.

"It is frustrating that Royal Mail is ignoring it. We are waiting to get more evidence before we forward it on to Royal Mail."

Councillor Dee has received an email from a woman who was writing on behalf of her mum from Shrewsbury who has been receiving letters addressed to a home in Wem.

The email states: "Each time she sends it back saying Wem, not Shrewsbury, but they still keep arriving.

"These letters have included solicitors letters, court summons, and the police have called at her door looking for the person.

"As you can imagine, she finds this both distressing because of the nature of some of the letters, and frustrating that she can't seem to stop them being delivered, even though they clearly include Wem in the address."

Meanwhile, at the town council meeting councillors also heard that a new sign to stop speeding on Mill Street in the town will be installed.

Residents have been calling for action to tackle traffic issues on Mill Street for months.

John Hand, of Mill Street, previously said residents had already waited a long time for action – and that there had been near misses involving pedestrians near his property.

Councillor Dee said: "The sign will be installed as you come into Wem in the 20mph zone.

"The fact that it will encourage people to slow down will be really good."

Penny O'Hagan, town council clerk, said: "It will be installed in the next financial year. It needs to be ordered and installed, and the fact that it will be done by Shropshire Council's contractors means we are in their hands."