ROYAL Mail have re-opened discussions to close Stourport’s delivery office and move services to Kidderminster.

Plans to shut the town’s office were discussed during a consultation between Stourport and Kidderminster offices and Royal Mail representatives on Tuesday (July 26).

Residents, writing on social media, claimed the plans would add time and money spent on travelling to the Kidderminster site, which is 4.4 miles away from the office on High Street.

Previous discussions to close the service were shelved by Royal Mail in 2012.

Dave Jones, of the Wolverhampton and District branch of The Communications Union (CMU), said: "Our view is that we would like services not to move.

"We would like to maintain the excellent service for the public.

"We would like to think that the service would not be effected as the postmen and postwomen will work tremendously hard to maintain that service.

"I think it is a deterioration in the service.

"We will be reserving our right to maintain a campaign.

"We have not started a campaign at the moment and we will be gauging the feeling of the staff in Stourport and Kidderminster as well as residents."

Currently 30 staff are employed in the Stourport office, which is close to seeing its lease expire, although Royal Mail insist no job losses will be incurred should the move go ahead.

A spokesperson said: "Royal Mail is exploring an option to relocate Stourport delivery office to its office in Kidderminster.

"This is part of Royal Mail’s ongoing transformation of its business and its work to increase the efficiency of its operations.

"We have just started to talk to our union and our people about this potential move and seek their feedback. No final decision has been made yet.

"We are committed to continuing to provide a first class service to our business and residential customers served by these offices.

"If the move goes ahead, detailed planning will take place to ensure a smooth transition for our operations, our people and the service we provide to our customers.

"We have a strong track record of managing change and we will work with our staff and our unions to give them the opportunity to discuss the implications in detail.

"If this move goes ahead, there will be no job losses. We also reimburse our staff for any extra mileage incurred by changes to their place of work."