Future of Dunmow's Post Office is in doubt

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FEARS are rising that Dunmow's town post office could be facing the axe after it was announced that the rear of the building will no longer serve as a sorting office.

Workers will be forced to move to Braintree sorting office and drive to Dunmow to deliver mail following the Royal Mail's decision to close the site.

A company spokesman said: "A combination of health and safety and space issues has prompted Royal Mail to decide to merge Dunmow delivery operation with that of Braintree.

"A number of options have been considered previously for a new site, but the decision was taken to relocate to an extended Braintree operation, partly because no suitable sites were identified locally.

"However, customers can be assured that the relocation will mean no change to their deliveries."

Postmen disagree and are very concerned about the level of service dropping and having to put in extra hours with less pay.

Members of Dunmow Town Council have been made aware that closing one part of the office could lead to an entire closure of the Post Office site on the High Street.

At a meeting next week they will be discussing the situation and it has emerged that positive action - possibly involving petitioning with residents - could be taken.

Cllr Frank Silver did not confirm that the council would enter into petitioning but said: "We need to work out what we as a council can do to help stop this from happening.

"It is a risk that if we lose the sorting office the post office may go with it. With cues out the door on a regular basis we know it is a service the Dunmow people will want to keep."

The changes are not due to happen until the start of 2010 at the earliest, but Royal Mail has been looking at plans to relocate away from Dunmow for some years, mainly because the site is simply described as "not ideal for purpose."

The company spokesman added: "Customers will continue to be able to collect mail locally at the attached Post Office branch in the High Street and we are continuing to work closely with staff on all issues associated with the move."