Plea to keep NFU offices in town

A councillor from Wem has launched a campaign calling on the National Farmers' Union to keep its premises in the town. He said hundreds visited the offices every week.District and town councillor John Murray is calling for residents to write in protest to NFU bosses and to consider boycotting the organisation if it does move away.

The campaign comes after NFU officials last month announced plans to close the Wem office and move to an unspecified larger site in north Shropshire.

Councillor Murray estimated that up to 300 people visited the local office each week. He said the closure would hit the town badly.

"As a town we need to keep these businesses. If the NFU needs a bigger prem-ises, we have plenty of offices in Wem, and there are offices available to let," he said.

"I'd ask people who use the NFU to write to their local manager and to the NFU head office and ask that they keep the offices in Wem.

"I'd also like people to consider withholding their business if the offices do move outside the town. The move will affect the whole town."

James Smith, manager at the Wem NFU office, was unavailable for comment.

Mr Smith has previously said the move would not affect NFU customers as business could be conducted on the telephone and he would continue to visit customers at their own premises.

Councillor Murray is urging protesters to write to the NFU at 50 High Street, Wem SY4 5DW, or the head office at Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire CV8 2TZ.

NFU Mutual deals in life and general insurance, pensions, annuities, savings and investments, property, liability and motor insurance.