People in Bilston say they face an extra three-mile journey, sitting in city centre traffic and struggling to park just to pick up parcels – and they’re not happy.

Royal Mail is looking to relocate its Hall Street delivery office to Wolverhampton later this year as the site is “no longer suitable” due to its size.

But despite the sorting office in Sun Street, Wolverhampton, being open considerably longer than the Bilston office - including all day Saturday and between 11am and 3pm on Sunday – a petition has been launched to halt the move.

The man behind the petition, Luke Taylor said relocating the office would “benefit no one at all”,  and it would seem the 1,573 people who have added their signatures agree.

Explaning his issues with the proposal, he said: “It will mean having to travel a lot further to collect parcels. 

“As the quality of service will greatly suffer, it could mean customers will receive their mail and parcels later.

Royal Mail's Bilston delivery office in Hall Street

“It is very difficult to park on Sun Street at the best of times, parking fees will be incurred and traffic is regularly congested - imagine going to collect your parcel on a match day or during rush hour?”

Luke said the current office was “conveniently located” near the town’s  market, bus depot and shops, adding: “Many customers that go to collect their parcels frequent the market and shops and closing down the office will only cause loss of custom for the market traders and shop keepers.

“This move will benefit no one at all.”

However Royal Mail has said there would be no impact on deliveries and staff would  “continue to serve their local communities as they do now”.

A spokesman said: “The current site is no longer suitable for our operation as we deliver more parcels and fewer letters.

“The proposed move to Wolverhampton would enable us to improve the working environment for our people and provide more space to sort mail securely, especially at our busy times of year.

“This is part of Royal Mail’s ongoing transformation of its business to increase the efficiency of its operation as well as providing delivery offices which are fit for purpose for our people and for our customers.

“As a commercial business, Royal Mail is responding to the huge growth in electronic communications and decline in letter volumes, while seeing a high volume of parcels and online shopping which need to be delivered to customers.

Royal Mail's Wolverhampton delivery office in Sun Street

“We will undertake detailed planning before any operational move takes place to ensure a smooth transition for our operations, our people and the service we provide to our customers.

“We have a strong track record of managing change in our business. There will not be any job losses as a result of these relocations.”

Royal Mail also said parking was available at the Wolverhampton site, including dedicated disabled parking spaces, but there will be another option for customers who aren’t able or willing to make the journey.

Man items - apart from special delivery items and inbound international items that require a signature – can be left with a neighbour if customers are not at home when staff attempt delivery.

People can also nominate a dedicated neighbour to take in parcels by filling in a form at the delivery office.

Redelivery can also be arranged free of charge on a day that is convenient (including Saturdays), or Royal Mail can deliver the item to a different address within the same postcode area, which can be arranged via www.royalmail.com/redelivery .

To sign the petition against the relocation plans, click here .