AN MP claimed today it would be “unthinkable” for York to lose its mail sorting office.
Selby MP John Grogan spoke out after The Press exclusively revealed yesterday that Royal Mail intends to transfer the sorting of second class post from York to Leeds.
The company said there were “no plans at the moment” to transfer any further mail processing to Leeds, and claimed there would be no deterioration in the service provided to customers.
But union leaders and posties said they feared that first class mail sorting would also go to Leeds at a later date, leading to the eventual closure of the York office in Leeman Road and the loss of 360 jobs.
They also claimed York customers would suffer a poorer service and that it was environmentally unacceptable for mail posted in York to be sent to Leeds before being brought back for delivery in the city – a claim dismissed by Royal Mail, which said vehicles would be used that were already making the journey.
Mr Grogan said the revelations would cause genuine concerns not only about the impact on postal workers’ jobs, but also the impact on customers, in particular businesses. “They rely on an efficient mail service,” he said.
“The thought of York not having a sorting office for first class deliveries is unthinkable. I don’t see how Royal Mail could possibly meet its delivery targets.” He said he planned to write to Royal Mail about the matter.
York MP Hugh Bayley said it “seemed quite wrong,” to take mail all the way to Leeds for it to be sorted and then brought back to York.
“The staff and unions are right to raise concerns about the environmental impact.”
Susie Cawood, head of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said the quality of service by the Royal Mail was of crucial importance to businesses in the area, which sometimes used the second class service.