MPs hold Copperas Hill crisis talks

Aug 13 2008

Copperas Hill sorting office _320

CITY leaders today met with senior Royal Mail management in an attempt to save hundreds of jobs at the Copperas Hill sorting office.

The summit at Royal Mail’s Liverpool complex this morning saw Riverside MP Louise Ellman, Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle, and Bootle MP Joe Benton sit down with Steve Cameron, the service's regional northern director.

Liverpool Vision, which has been working with Communication Workers Union to come up with alternatives, also joined the meeting to put forward their case.

Mrs Ellman said: "I asked whether they intended to honour their commitment to look at alternative sites for a sorting office in Liverpool."

Her question follows turmoil in the wake of Royal Mail last week announcing they would prefer to move to Warrington than retain a sorting office in Liverpool.

The intention would mean some 480 jobs would leave the city and around 280 jobs could be axed.

Furious city leaders have also assessed the knock on economic impact on Liverpool to total around £26m.

Liverpool Vision, Liverpool City Council and CWU have identified three sites that would allow Royal Mail to relocate to within the city. These include a spot on Stonebridge Park, on East Lancs Road, and two in Speke.