Campaigners given more time to save sorting office

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CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save their sorting office have been given extra time after Royal Mail admitted it had made errors in its planning application.

Royal Mail said this week that the merger of the Wotton-under-Edge sorting office with the office in Cam would be delayed because they had left some vital data out of planning conditions for the Cam site.

The hold-up gives campaigners some extra time to reverse the decision to merge the Wotton office with the sorting office in Cam.

Cotswolds MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who has supported the Save Our Sorting Campaign, presented the House of Commons with a petition on behalf of the campaigners on Monday and has requested an urgent meeting with Pat McFadden MP, the Minister with overall responsibility for Royal Mail.

Wotton county councillor and deputy mayor, John Cordwell, said: "This is a further step in our campaign to retain the Wotton sorting office. "The Mayor and I have now been invited to meet Rob Jenson, area general manager for the Royal Mail.

"This will give us an opportunity to present to the Royal Mail the flawed information on which they are defending the move."

Mr Clifton-Brown this week criticised Royal Mail for their handling of the closure of the Wotton sorting office, which services a 45-square mile area including Charfield, Tortworth, Kingswood and Wickwar.

"I am disappointed in Royal Mail's performance in regards to the closure," said Mr Clifton-Brown.

"Opposition to the move has been loud and clear and Royal Mail have failed to communicate adequately.

"Now it emerges that they have not considered the full planning implications of this move.

"What has already caused great upset and disruption to the local community could now potentially continue as uncertainty persists as to whether this move can actually go ahead.

"A reconsideration of this would be warmly welcomed by the people of Wotton and the surrounding area."

No one from Royal Mail was available for comment.