MEMBERS of the borough are to have a chance to debate the future of the town’s Royal Mail sorting office at their next meeting in December.

The Royal Mail announced earlier this month that the future of the Commercial Road sorting office was under review – putting a question mark over the future of 230 sorting office staff who work there.

The office building is owned by the borough council and leased to the Royal Mail on a 125-year term.

Now the ruling Labour group at the borough has tabled a motion for discussion at the next meeting on December 12: “This Council notes with concern the announcement by Royal Mail of a review of the future of the Commercial Road Sorting Office.

“It calls upon Royal Mail to work with staff, unions and Ipswich Borough Council to secure the future of the Sorting Office in Ipswich.”

Council leader David Ellesmere said he hoped it would get all-party support to save the jobs that could go if the sorting office shut.

The council is due to meet Royal Mail bosses earlier in the month to try to find a way of persuading them to retain the sorting office.

Royal Mail has said all options would be considered – but if the office closed the work would transfer to offices in Chelmsford and Norwich. The decision will be announced in May next year.

n How important is the sorting office to Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk