Hundreds back campaign to save sorting office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Hundreds back campaign to save sorting office in Wotton-under-Edge http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/406 ... ng_office/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OVER 800 people have put their name to a campaign to save a Royal Mail sorting office.

Support is growing for the campaign to save Wotton-under-Edge sorting office, which serves a 45 square mile area including Wickwar, Charfield, Tortworth, Hillesley and Cromhall.

A public meeting about the closure was held last week and over 60 people from Wotton and the surrounding areas attended to discuss the case for it keeping it open.

Dr Tony Raphael, who attended the meeting, said: "Those without cars, single parents, the elderly and the disabled will all be substantially disadvantaged by this move.

"It was strongly felt that the Royal Mail needs to take on board the corporate and social responsibilities of a public body and consider very hard the impact on the local community.

"There is much concern amongst local traders who see this as yet another blow to the local commercial community.

"Volunteers gathered after the meeting to offer their help in campaigning against this closure – more offers would be very welcome."

The organisers of the meeting invited a representative from Royal Mail, but no one attended from the company.

The Gazette revealed last December that the Royal Mail had decided to close the sorting office in Wotton and merge it with the sorting office in Cam following a review of its operations.

Dr John Cordwell, district councillor for Wotton-under-Edge, said he was concerned that there was a serious lack of public transport running to Cam from Wotton and the surrounding villages.

He said: "This takes on extra concern with the Royal Mail’s intention, strongly contested locally, to permanently close the Wotton sorting office in March forcing customers to travel to the Cam sorting office on a site already saturated with cars."

To add your name to the campaign to save the Wotton sorting office visit http://www.savethesortingoffice.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.