A campaign has kicked off to save Tadley postal delivery office from closure.
Royal Mail announced on Tuesday last week that the Newchurch Road delivery office will be relocated to Basingstoke this autumn.
Cllr Stephen West has branded the move “outrageous” and has launched an petition to rally public support.
He is calling for residents to sign up online to put pressure on Royal Mail to scrap the closure.
He said: “This is an insult to our hard working postmen and women and a blow for the residents of Tadley.”
Royal Mail senior external relations manager Richard Hall said the move to Basingstoke is necessary due to falling volumes of mail and the economic squeeze.
With the rise in email and social networking, volumes have fallen year on year. More that 16million less letters are sent each day compared to five years ago.
Mr Hall said: “Faced with declining mail volumes and increasingly tough trading conditions, Royal Mail constantly reviews the operational efficiency and commercial practicality of all its units.
“We need to make sure that we have world-class facilities which provide the most efficient and effective network for delivering the post.”
Mr Hall stressed that the Royal Mail is looking to set up a depot for undelivered Tadley mail, meaning residents will not have to travel to Basingstoke to pick up missed packages.
He said: “We have not at this stage agreed a location in Tadley to provide this facility, but once we do it will be free of charge and customers will not have to travel to Basingstoke to collect mail.”
But Cllr West hit out at the decision to close the deliver office, saying: “It is time for Royal Mail to come clean and announce exactly what the arrangements will be for local residents before they close the office.
“Like many corporate decisions, the devil is in the detail.”
Supporting the campaign is Tadley resident Stuart Frost and former mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Warwick Lovegrove.
Mr Frost said: “Think of all the carbon monoxide from staff driving to Basingstoke, then back to Tadley and the back again – it is going to be outrageous.
“I can’t see how it is not economic to keep this building open.”
His comments were echoed by Mr Lovegrove, who said: “The postmen are local and will have to travel to Basingstoke at 5am and then drive all the way back.
“That does not do the green footprint any good, it is the wrong way to go. It is bad news for them.”
The Royal Mail also announced that the Hook delivery office in Osborn Way will also be axed with its operations relocated to Basingstoke.
To support the Tadley campaign, visit www.saveourdeliveryoffice. com
