Gloucester mail centre review begins

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A review into the future of the Gloucester mail centre has begun after a 27% fall in the amount of post processed in the last four years.

The consultation is part of a UK-wide review set to run for six months.

There are 450 workers at the Eastern Avenue centre and Royal Mail bosses are in talks with the unions.

Concerns have been raised by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) in Gloucestershire who fear the centre could be closed.

The union believes workers could be moved to Swindon or Bristol.

'Difficulties'
A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: "There will be a six-month period of consultation with employees and trade unions before a decision is announced.

"This review is in response to the challenges from digital communication, competition and mail volume decline."

Paul Trehearne from the CWU, said: "Working out of Swindon or Bristol would cause a lot of difficulties, especially for our part-time workforce who perhaps attend for three, three-and-a-half hours a day.

"Going to Bristol for six o'clock in the evening they're going to be spending more time travelling, so we believe they would not be reasonable job offers."

An initial proposal is expected to be published at the end of May