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The Royal Mail’s senior public affairs manager Michael Hogg sent a letter to MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron.
In it, Mr Hogg said: “After a review of the operation in Sedbergh, we have taken the decision to not relocate the operation to Kendal Delivery Office. Customers will see no changes to the service we offer. We are in the process of informing our people of the decision.
“As you will be aware we regularly review all our operational sites, including those which serve your constituency, to ensure mail is delivered as efficiently and quickly as possible.
“I will of course update you should we be proposing any changes to operational sites which service your constituency, including Sedbergh.
“I hope this update is helpful and your constituents are pleased with the outcome.”
Community campaigners feared that moving the delivery office would threaten the viability of the post office. It currently receives a third of its income from renting the delivery office out to Royal Mail and the outreaches it runs in Endmoor, Dent and Barbon.
Postal master Peter Jackson also said: “They wish to relocate to Kendal which makes no sense. A lot of our post staff live in Sedbergh and it makes no sense to send them to Kendal before making them bring it all back.”
In November, Mr Farron presented a 2,000-signature-strong petition to Parliament calling for Royal Mail to drop their plans to shut the delivery office.
Mr Farron said: “I’m absolutely over the moon that Royal Mail have backed down and decided not to close Sedbergh’s delivery office.
READ MORE: Campaign launched to save Sedbergh Delivery Office from potential closure
“This move would have seriously threatened Sedbergh’s post office which is so important for local residents.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who signed our petition and put pressure on Royal Mail, in particular local Lib Dem councillors Ian Mitchell and Hazel Hodgson, as well as Sedbergh’s postmaster Peter Jackson.
“I’d also like to thank postal workers in Sedbergh who have had to put up with a lot of uncertainty over the past six months. I’m grateful for their hard work and dedication.
“This is another fantastic victory for community campaigning.”
