Budleigh Salterton delivery office set to close

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The company says it is consulting on plans to relocate its town centre facility, including the enquiry office for parcel collection, to its office in Exmouth in spring 2016.

Royal Mail insists no decision has yet been made, and no jobs are at risk, but concern has been raised about the effect on customers who may have to travel into Exmouth to pick up mail.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail is exploring an option to relocate its Budleigh Salterton delivery office to its office in Exmouth in spring 2016.

“We have just started to talk to our union and our people about this potential move, to seek their feedback.

“No final decision has been made yet. We are committed to continuing to provide a first-class service to our business and residential customers served by these offices.

“If this move goes ahead, there will be no job losses.”

Despite Royal Mail’s assurances, there are fears about the effect on customers in Budleigh.

The town’s deputy mayor, Councillor Chris Kitson, said: “If they did close the office in Budleigh, it would mean anybody who wouldn’t be at home to receive a delivery or sign for a letter wouldn’t be able to go down to pick it up in town, so presumably they would have to go to Exmouth to pick it up from there, which may not be convenient.”

Budleigh Salterton Chamber of Commerce chairman Christine Bentley said: “Obviously, the service will get worse. A lot of people don’t get their post until afternoons now, many days - that’s private houses - and it’s just going to be worse.

“High Street shops are supposed to get priority, but they don’t seem to get it. You need your post early in the morning so you can deal with it that day, if you’ve got bills to pay and goods being delivered.”

Royal Mail said it was too early to say what could happen to its High Street building if it was vacated, but Mrs Bentley raised fears the empty site would be ‘another ghost in the town’.

She added: “We are becoming a second-class town.”