NE CAMBS MP Steve Barclay has challenged Royal Mail bosses over the proposals to shut Chatteris sorting office.

He raised concerns over the planned closure with Royal Mail representatives Duncan Stephenson, Michael Thompson and Sally Hopkins and asked why an alternative site in Chatteris wasn’t considered.

The Royal Mail officials refused to confirm that March staff would be affected in the future but said that a 10-week detailed revision tool, which plans delivery routes, had not taken place.

Mr Barclay said: “I would have expected this planning work for a new delivery model in Chatteris to have been carried out before deciding to sell the building, and it suggests raising cash from the sale of the building is the key driver rather than savings from changes to the operating model.

“I accept that Royal Mail needs to make efficiencies and that the current premises may have flaws, but Chatteris as a growing town needs this service and Royal Mail have a duty to look for alternative locations and working patterns to remain in the area.

“It also became clear that much of the proposed savings would come from saving to staffing costs and I challenged Royal Mail to look to make these efficiencies whilst retaining a presence in Chatteris.”