Residents demand to know fate of Westhill sorting office

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Residents demand to know fate of sorting office after closure fears

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Concerned locals speak out as end of Westhill delivery centre’s lease approaches


Concerned residents are demanding a sit-down with postal bosses over fears that an Aberdeenshire sorting office may close.

The Royal Mail Group has been unable to guarantee the future of the Westhill site beyond the life of the current lease, which expires in September.

Members of Westhill and Elrick Community Council have called for a meeting to voice their concerns at the prospect of the facility being relocated to the main postal base at Altens, in Aberdeen.

Iris Walker, spokeswoman for Westhill and Elrick Community Council, said there was a sense of urgency among residents.

She said: “We were supposed to be meeting with the area manager from Royal Mail in June, but we need to voice our concerns before then. Time is running out.

“If the lease is running out in September, then the decision may already be made by June.

“Our vice-chair will be calling the post office this week to try to set up a meeting.”

Around 30 members of staff are employed at the Westhill delivery office, which serves one of the fastest-growing communities in the region.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said the company would welcome any opportunity to address concerns among residents. She said: “We would be happy to meet if we are requested to do so, and happy to hear the views of the community on this.

“We are at a very early stage, and we are looking at all the options available to us.”

Westhill councillor Amanda Allan has given her backing to moves to retain the sorting office, and suggested that even if closure was unavoidable, the Royal Mail could at the very least maintain a parcel pick-up point at the local shopping centre.

She said: “Westhill is getting bigger and bigger, and this would be a huge loss to the area if it was to go ahead.

“A lot of people work during the day, and it is not an option to stay at home waiting for a parcel to be delivered.”

Meanwhile, residents in the Westhill area are being invited to get involved with the community council.

Nomination forms will be circulated in the spring issue of the Westhill Bulletin, ahead of an election in May.

All current members will stand down and be required to put their names forward for what will be the first election since the community council was formed in 2007.

Anyone interested has until April 15 to return nomination forms.

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles has claimed health and safety issues are behind the proposal to relocate the sorting office at Westhill.

He said Royal Mail staff had indicated to him in a letter that there were concerns about the depot being situated in an industrial area.

He said: “Safety for staff and customers has to be of paramount importance and, therefore, if it is considered that the current location for the Westhill Sorting Office is unsuitable then, of course, relocation will have to take place.

“However this is an important facility for our constituents and Westhill and as far as we are concerned it must be relocated within Westhill.”