A Suffolk postmaster has slammed a 'ludicrous' decision by Royal Mail to close his town's sorting office.
Roger Tripp, postmaster at Framlingham, said losing the facility would lead to poor customer service and cost the postal service more money, as well as having a greater environmental impact, due to staff having to travel from Saxmundham to deliver mail.
The sorting office was initially relocated to Saxmundham temporarily after its previous home in Riverside, which was shared with Mr Tripp's Post Office counter, flooded out during Storm Babet in October.
READ MORE: Suffolk MP's call for sorting office to return after floods
However, subsequently Mr Tripp has received a letter from Royal Mail confirming that the sorting office will not be returning to Framlingham.
"It is going to cost them more money for this, the environmental impact is going to be massive and the customer service is going to be poor.
"It is just ludicrous and nobody seems to understand quite why," he said.
He added customers were having to wait an extra day to receive their mail because postmen were unable to complete their deliveries due to the time involved with travelling to and from Saxmundham.
Additionally, residents who needed to collect parcels had a smaller timeframe available as the Saxmundham office was only open between 8am and 10am on weekdays and 8am-noon on Saturdays, whereas the Framlingham sorting office used to open from 8am-5.30pm.
To make matters worse, Mr Tripp said he was due to have a meeting with Royal Mail representatives and Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, who has also called for the sorting office to be restored.
READ MORE: Framlingham news
However, the mail firm's representatives pulled out of Friday's meeting to discuss the situation, a decision Mr Tripp described as 'disgusting'.
"The customer service is going to be rubbish and it just beggars belief. It is not just Framlingham, but it will also affect all the surrounding villages," Mr Tripp added.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “It is not the case that customers will need to travel to Saxmundham to collect their parcels, although the option to collect parcels from there is available.
READ MORE: Suffolk news
"Since the introduction of auto redelivery in May 2023, 99.8 per cent of items are now successfully delivered to customers in Framlingham after the first or second delivery attempt.
"If they miss these delivery attempts, they can also arrange to have their items redelivered free of charge.
“Customers will find the information they need to arrange a free redelivery on the ‘Something for you’ card we will leave at the address after the second delivery attempt.
READ MORE: Framlingham Post Office could reopen next week after Babet
"More information about our Customer Service Point opening hours, if they wish to attend the Saxmundham delivery office and how to arrange a redelivery, can be found at www.royalmail.com.”
Mr Tripp also revealed that he hoped to return to Riverside by Easter as Post Office staff had been busy repairing the damage caused by the flooding.
The counter has been based at Bulstrodes and Framlingham Toy Shop in Bridge Street since November after local businessman Bill Bulstrode, who owns the store, came to the rescue of the stranded Post Office.
READ MORE: Framlingham Post Office reopens after Storm Babet flooding
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