Anger as Royal Mail threatens Cricklade depot

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news ... ry_office/

A PETITION to save Cricklade’s postal delivery office has been signed by more than 1,000 people.

The document will now be sent to Royal Mail managers who hold the fate of the delivery office in their hands.

The proposals by Royal Mail to close the Cricklade office are still being considered but it could follow the office in Highworth, which has already been merged with the West Swindon office.

If that happened the postal workers, most of whom live in Cricklade, would have to travel to West Swindon then come back to Cricklade to deliver their post.

Royal Mail has stressed that no jobs will be lost and has assured customers they will receive the same level of service.

But posties say later delivery times will force many businesses to seek alternative arrangements.

Chris Rye, branch secretary for the Communication Workers’ Union, said he hoped the petition would show managers how much support there was in the community for keeping the delivery office in Cricklade.

He said: “The people of Cricklade are 100 per cent behind the staff here and for keeping the delivery office local.

“Royal Mail are getting around this by saying that they will still be able to meet their targets. But what they cannot do is guarantee the same delivery times that are being achieved at the moment.

“They had the chance to extend the current office to fit in all the extra equipment they say they need but they don’t seem to want to consider that option.

“The feeling among the staff is quite despondent at the moment – they live locally and they don’t want to have to travel to West Swindon when it makes absolutely no sense.

“What this petition shows is that local people want local services kept within their local community.

“The worry is that although the actual post office in Cricklade is not under threat we have seen what has happened in other parts of the country and if Cricklade was to lose its post office residents would then be forced to travel to West Swindon.”

A further petition which, according to organisers had several hundred signatures on it, went missing.

[LDV 350]

Good to see local people rallying round to save the pdo, just a shame it's fate is already sealed by the over paid faceless lot on high

[dvbuk55]

Just one of many to come.

It is sad to see local services go but understandably RM are trying to rationalise both Mail Centres and Delivery offices, unfortunate for those involved but needs must.