A UNION fighting the closure of Chatteris Sorting Office condemned Royal Mail for putting it up for sale with a �200,000 tag.

Andy Beeby, branch chairman for the Communications Workers Union, said his members were “very concerned” by the closure.

“Royal Mail has clearly shown their intentions are a real threat by placing the property up for sale before any agreement has been reached with the CWU,” said Mr Beeby.

Their move to market the property so soon “would stop local people from protecting the heart of the community.

“We have been in contact with councillors and the MP and are in the process of arranging a public meeting, so that we may get as many local people on board as possible.

“It is important that this meeting is well attended as this will be vital to us winning the fight to save the delivery office. We also intend to have petitions and leaflets out around the town over the coming weeks.”

Mr Beeby said the public can help by writing to MP Steve Barclay and to Royal Mail at Old Street London to register their opposition to the closure.

“This closure is not in the interests of the public of Chatteris and will result in later mail delivery times and take jobs away from the local community,” said Mr Beeby. Mr Barclay said closure would be short sighted and would ignore the growing population of Chatteris.

Royal Mail insists the move “is purely for business and operational reasons and is part of Royal Mail’s business-wide investment and modernisation programme.

“The fact is a relocation to nearby March will provide improved working conditions and new equipment and a more cost-effective operation.”

*BNP Paribas Real Estate is offering the Park Street property for sale for offers around �200,000. It has 4,300 square feet of space.