Axbridge Sorting Office to be closed down this weekend raising concerns over town's post office

Royal Mail's sorting office in Axbridge will be closed from Saturday (August 21), angering the town's chamber of commerce, postmaster Richard Helps and postal workers.

Despite assurances from Royal Mail that the closure was being reviewed and hints it may stay open until the new year, the news was released with just days to go.

The office will be transferred to Winscombe bringing an end to postal sorting in the town after 150 years.

Chairman of Axbridge Chamber of Commerce and postmaster Mr Helps said it was real blow to the town's economy as it now put at risk the future of the Post Office itself.

He said: "We fought to keep the sorting office open with letters from the chamber, a petition of nearly 2,000 signatures, pressure from the town council and the local MP James Heappey as well as Tessa Munt for the Liberal Democrats and the residents and traders but to no avail. Royal Mail have not listened."

Secretary for the chamber of commerce Harry Mottram said: "This is terrible. It is a short-term cost-cutting exercise that leaves the town poorer.

"We've seen shops close, businesses shut up shop and the Crown Inn close with footfall down due to Covid restrictions so this is a real blow.

"We must all support the Post Office and hope it can remain viable – don't forget they sell gifts, confectionary, cards and a huge range of stationery and items for school students such as pens and paper."

Earlier the chamber orchestrated a campaign to save the sorting office with letters to the Queen and Royal Mail.

Town councillor Ben Ferguson was among those who organised an online petition as well as the written one in the Post Office, which gathered more than 1,500 signatures reflecting the public desire to retain the office and the jobs it created.

Cheddar Nub News has approached Royal Mail for a comment, but the company has not replied at the time of publication.