Fears of union boss over Shropshire mail office threat

Brett Davis, chairman of the Shropshire and Telford Trades Council, has criticised plans to close the county’s only sorting office in Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury. Up to 160 jobs face the axe under the proposals.

They would see mail for Shropshire and Mid Wales sorted in Chester, Wolverhampton and Cardiff.

The Royal Mail says the move is necessary due to ‘challenges from digital communication, competition and mail volume decline’.

But Mr Davis said it made no sense to sort Shropshire mail outside the county.

He said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous that a letter sent from one end of Shrewsbury to another should have to go to Chester first.

“That doesn’t seem to be economically sensible nor is it adhering to green policies. It surely has to impact customer service.”

Mr Davis said the trades council was becoming increasingly concerned about the deterioration of the service for Shropshire residents.

He added that it did not make sense to close Shrewsbury’s sorting office, which he said has been classed as ‘high performing’ by Royal Mail bosses.

He said: “It also doesn’t make sense for Shrewsbury. Look at the jobs we have lost already at Copthorne Barracks, Uniq Desserts, Barrats shoes, Peacocks, and we’ve also heard recently of the threat of Shropshire dinner ladies and Shropshire ambulance personnel losing their jobs.

“Public sector jobs losses in Shropshire will lead to private sector job losses as there is less money in the economy and ultimately will lead to a downward spiral that will see Shrewsbury fast become a ‘ghost town’.”