ROYAL Mail workers say they are hopeful that any planned closure of Stourport’s delivery office has been scrapped after postal chiefs “shelved” the proposals.

Postal workers feared that the delivery office would be closed down and all staff moved to Kidderminster after a manager was employed to do a feasibility study into the cost of the move.

But workers now believe that Royal Mail chiefs have abandoned the idea after the manager was put back on to operational duties.

Dave Jones, political officer for the Wolverhampton and District Branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said: “We have deduced from Royal Mail activity that they have shelved the idea for the time being.

“We have not been officially told because Royal Mail did not give us any official proposals.”

Mr Jones added that staff, who were concerned about any planned moved, were “elated” about the news.

“It’s a relief. The staff can get on with their lives again,” he added. “We’re still mindful that they could resurrect the plans but we don’t think that they will be for the foreseeable future. If they do, it will not be until the next financial year. The workers can carry on with their jobs at Stourport.”

Residents and figures from across the political spectrum pledged their support to the staff by getting behind their campaign to keep the office open.

The postal company, however, denied any closure plans throughout the campaign and claimed there were no firm plans for the Stourport Delivery Office.

Mr Jones added:“The branch would like to thank all those people who have supported the campaign. Without the public support and the political influence the outcome of the campaign could have been different.”