Wiltshire News
U-turn means Melksham PO to stay
5:00pm Friday 10th February 2012
Melksham's Post Office has been taken off the market by Royal Mail and will stay in the town centre, it has been announced.
Last April the Church Street delivery office, which includes a Post Office, was put up for sale.
Royal Mail said it was planning to close the building by this spring.
It wanted to include a clause in any sale contract, so the Post Office would remain open, but many of the 40 staff would have been moved to Chippenham.
However, the firm has done a U-turn and scrapped those plans, news which has been welcomed in the town.
Town councillor Vic Oakman, who had campaigned against the sale, said: “I’m very, very pleased it’s going to stay. It will save quite a few jobs in Melksham and that makes all the difference.
“It will most definitely make a difference to the service from the Post Office.
“It’s really good news for Melksham, which is a growing town. The other councillors approve of the fact it’s been taken off the market.”
Gary Burgess, Royal Mail’s Thames Valley delivery director, said: “We will continue to work closely with our union and our people, as we remain committed to continuing to provide a high level of service to our customers in Melksham.”
Royal Mail refused to comment on the reasons the office was taken off the market, but the Wiltshire Times understands it was not practical to transfer Melksham staff to Chippenham.
Chris Rye, area representative for the South West Seven branch of the Communication Workers’ Union, said: “I said all along that I don’t think that the Melksham office fitted into Chippenham, so I was quite adamant that it wouldn’t happen.
“It surprised me that Royal Mail ever made the decision. I think it’s always better to have a delivery office within the town or village. It’s better for quality of service.
“All in all, I think the staff are happy with it. We, as a union, are happy.
“But I’m not saying that’s it forever; Royal Mail is changing year-on-year.”