THE postal sorting office in Colne is to close and move to Nelson despite assurances that a decision had been put on hold, according to a leading councillor.

Former Pendle Council leader Alan Davies said the controversial decision was revealed at a recent meeting of the East Lancashire Post Office Advisory Committee.

Post Office operations manager Trevor York said work will start next month on a new combined sorting office for the area next to the existing one in Stanworth Street, Nelson.

Liberal councillor David Whipp told the meeting a series of collection points should be established across Pendle where people can collect parcels and other bulky mail. "I want to see collection points at different post offices in the area, including places like Trawden and Laneshawbridge, as well as different parts of Colne," he explained.

Coun Davies, a fellow Liberal, said the local Labour Party had not told the truth about the future of the Colne sorting office. "Only a few months ago the Labour Party put out a leaflet in Colne which said 'last week the Post Office announced a rethink over the closure of Colne's sorting office. A decision has been delayed for up to two years.'

"They claimed credit for this. It is now clear there was no rethink and planning for the new building has been continuing for all this time."

Coun Davies said the reason behind the closure was rationalisation which the Labour Government was forcing on the Post Office.

"We want people to be able to collect their parcels at their local post office," he added. "It will be intolerable if everyone has to go all the way to Nelson."

Its long-term viability was called into doubt last year when the Post Office announced plans to close and merge its operations at Nelson.

There was an outcry from residents and councillors and the Labour group organised a petition against the move.

Coun Davies has asked for the matter to be discussed at the meeting of Pendle Council's Colne area committee a week today.

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