Posties unhappy as MP snubs campaign

Postal union leaders today accused Wolverhampton MP Pat McFadden of putting his ministerial duties before his constituents by refusing to back a campaign to keep a Royal Mail delivery office open.

At a constituency surgery at Lunt Community Centre, Mr McFadden advised postal workers that he could not be involved in their campaign to help save the Hall Street delivery office, in Bilston, as it would not be "fair" on other areas where offices might be earmarked for closure.

Gary Perry, branch secretary of the Wolverhampton Communications Workers Union, said it was "incredible" that Mr McFadden, the minister responsible for postal services, would not stand by his constituents in Wolverhampton South-East.

"This will put Bilston in a worse position because you can bet your life that local MPs in other constituencies will campaign against office closures.

"The people of Bilston want their voices heard and their views listened to. They value their postal services and the workers who serve their communities and it is time their local MP represented them."

Speaking today, Mr McFadden said he was committed to supporting a £1.2 billion overhaul of Royal Mail, funded by a Government loan, which will streamline postal services nationwide.

"It's important that MPs are straight with their constituents and don't say they support change at a national level, but then say something different in their own constituency.

"I appreciate people's concerns about this and have asked Royal Mail about the future of the Bilston delivery office. They told me no decision has been taken," Mr McFadden added.

More than 1,180 people have now pledged their support for the campaign to save the Bilston office by joining a Facebook group.

A petition set up on the Prime Minister's website, 10 Downing Street, had 173 names on it by early today.

Staff say the closure would see workers have to travel four miles to Tipton to sort the mail.