MP condemns town's postmark loss
A Greater Manchester MP has said Royal Mail's decision to stop using the Stockport postmark is "outrageous".
Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell was given the news in a reply from Royal Mail bosses to his protest over the closure of the Stockport mail sorting office.
"We are not a suburb of Manchester, but a proud and successful town," he said.
A Royal Mail spokeswoman said the move to the Manchester Mail Centre had been made in consultation with its staff and the unions.
This is a slap in the face for our area. We are not a suburb of Manchester, but a proud and successful town
Andrew Stunell, Hazel Grove MP
Mail posted in the SK postcode area will now be stamped with a Manchester rather than a Stockport postmark.
The spokeswoman added the change was intended to improve operational efficiency and it would be impractical to process SK items differently from other mail passing through Manchester Mail Centre.
Mr Stunell said: "It is outrageous, and simply adds insult to injury. They want to take away the posties' jobs, delay the post, and now take away our postal identity as well. I intend to fight them hard."
He added: "This is a slap in the face for our area. We are not a suburb of Manchester, but a proud and successful town."
from BBC news website author unknown
