Royal Mail fights order to sell its Wickford sorting office

[johnnyp]

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Royal Mail fights order to sell its Wickford sorting office
4:40pm Thursday 15th January 2009

By Paul Offord »

ROYAL Mail has joined the chorus of protests against plans to build 173 luxury flats on the site of a postal sorting office.

Basildon Council has imposed a compulsory purchase order on the Royal Mail sorting office, in Lower Southend Road, Wickford, for the new homes.

Now the Royal Mail has announced it is formally objecting to the proposals.

Spokesmen James Taylor said this was because the council had not identified a suitable alternative location for the sorting office.

The Government has announced a public inquiry is being called into the proposals, after the Wickford Action Group raised concerns 173 flats would be an overdevelopment of the site.

Mr Taylor said: “Royal Mail is formally objecting to the placing of a compulsory order on its Wickford delivery office site.

“As we have maintained, we are not unwilling to move, but the council has not put forward any suitable alternative premises.

“We are talking to the council with a view to resolving this, but our priority must be to maintain service for customers locally.

“We have to ensure there is no break in service should we be asked to relocate.”

Steven Horgan, Basildon councillor responsible for regeneration, was “disappointed” Royal Mail had opposed the plans. He said: “The sorting office does not need to be in the town centre. This is a prime location for much needed housing.

“I would say it would be better to put it in one of our many industrial estates, which are along the A127, in Basildon, Wickford and Billericay, as there would be less of a problem with traffic. It is not like there is a shortage of commercial space Royal Mail could move into in Basildon.”

[Big Daz]

Much needed housing?

Its luxury flats, Tory run council by any chance?

[Poshpost]

Oh yes, Basildon Council is controlled by 29 Conservative Councillors and in opposition 10 Labour and 3 Liberal Democrats.

"Steven Horgan, Basildon councillor responsible for regeneration, was “disappointed” Royal Mail had opposed the plans. He said: “The sorting office does not need to be in the town centre."

Mr.Horgan shows a lack of understanding about how the mail might be delivered once it leaves an industrial site many miles from the area it serves.

[not me]

Oh yes, Basildon Council is controlled by 29 Conservative Councillors and in opposition 10 Labour and 3 Liberal Democrats.

"Steven Horgan, Basildon councillor responsible for regeneration, was “disappointed” Royal Mail had opposed the plans. He said: “The sorting office does not need to be in the town centre."

Mr.Horgan shows a lack of understanding about how the mail might be delivered once it leaves an industrial site many miles from the area it serves.

RM moved my office away from its central position to an industrial estate at the very edge of the delivery area

[DGP1]

Oh yes, Basildon Council is controlled by 29 Conservative Councillors and in opposition 10 Labour and 3 Liberal Democrats.

"Steven Horgan, Basildon councillor responsible for regeneration, was “disappointed” Royal Mail had opposed the plans. He said: “The sorting office does not need to be in the town centre."

Mr.Horgan shows a lack of understanding about how the mail might be delivered once it leaves an industrial site many miles from the area it serves.

RM moved my office away from its central position to an industrial estate at the very edge of the delivery area

I think what RMs problem is the complusory purchase order rather than RM selling it off to the highest bidder, it's all about money.