FIFTEEN jobs are to go at an Ipswich delivery plant when a contract held with a major bank comes to an end, it was announced today.Branch Direct, which shares premises with Parcelforce Worldwide in Central Avenue, Ransomes Euro Park, and is part of the Royal Mail group, has told its staff that the positions will go later this year.

FIFTEEN jobs are to go at an Ipswich delivery plant when a contract held with a major bank comes to an end, it was announced today.

Branch Direct, which shares premises with Parcelforce Worldwide in Central Avenue, Ransomes Euro Park, and is part of the Royal Mail group, has told its staff that the positions will go later this year.

But it has offered the workers redeployment within Branch Direct's other UK sites, elsewhere within Royal Mail or the option of taking voluntary redundancies.

Royal Mail today insisted there would be no compulsory redundancies.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We are restructuring our dedicated, overnight inter-branch delivery operation because a contract to provide this service comes to end in August 2007.

“Royal Mail is committed to continuing to deliver a high quality of service to its remaining customers in this highly competitive part of the postal market and we will continue to seek new business opportunities.

“This does not impact on Royal Mail's postal network - this was a dedicated service created and tailored to meet the specific needs of the customer.”

Branch Direct operates a delivery service for banks, supermarkets and other stores between their branches.

Its operation in Norwich is also set to close, with the loss of 12 jobs. Workers there will also be offered redeployment or voluntary redundancy.

If staff from Ipswich and Norwich choose to be redeployed within Branch Direct the nearest site the company operates is in Peterborough.

If the Ipswich workers chose to move to posts in Royal Mail, positions will be offered in Ipswich.

Royal Mail said it will be consulting with the Communication Workers Union and the Communication Managers Association over proposals to restructure the network before it finalises its plans.