MP and Lib Dem councillors start campaign to save Sedbergh Royal Mail Delivery Office

Today, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron and local Liberal Democrat councillors Ian Mitchell, Hazel Hodgson and Suzie Pye have started a petition to stop Royal Mail's planned closure of Sedbergh Delivery Office.

Currently, Sedbergh Post Office receives a third of its income by renting the delivery office out to Royal Mail.

There are fears that moving the delivery office threatens the viability of Sedbergh Post Office, and therefore the post office services managed by Sedbergh Post Office such as the outreaches in Dent, Barbon and Endmoor.

In a letter to Royal Mail's Chief Executive, Simon Thompson, Tim said: "I was extremely concerned to hear of these plans because I fear it will have cascading repercussions in the Sedbergh community and surrounding villages

"In addition, several of the postmen and women for Sedbergh live in Sedbergh and some of them don't have cars. If the delivery office were to move, it is likely that we will see new postmen and women who don't live in or know the community well and needlessly lose some that do.

"Sedbergh Post Office also offers banking and pensions services that are not available elsewhere in town and should the post office close, local residents and businesses would have to travel a considerable distance to access alternative services.

"In short, moving the Sedbergh delivery office to Kendal has its repercussions. I object to the move and would urge Royal Mail to consider alternatives or drop these plans altogether."

Tim's online petition can be signed here.