Massingham: Posties join fight over deliveries

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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SIX angry postmen are among those who have signed a petition calling for a new Royal Mail delivery system to be scrapped.


More than 100 people in total have signed the petition in Massingham after the new system led to undelivered mail and later deliveries.

The new system was rolled out across West Norfolk in April as part of Royal Mail’s modernisation programme and changes include new delivery routes, later start times, different postmen, and sharing of postal vans, instead of bikes.

Jan Lawson, owner of Massingham-based medical support system manufacturer Cuneiform, said the new service was a “disaster” and launched the petition for it to be scrapped last month.

“The post always used to arrive by 9.15am to 9.30am, so we could take it to the workshop and we could get to work. Now some days we don’t get any or it arrives at 1pm or 3pm. It’s really frustrating to say the least. We don’t know if the post will arrive, when it will arrive or who will be delivering it. It’s the unpredictability which is upsetting people.

“We even had several postmen themselves sign the petition, which was just incredible. It’s obvious they are not being allowed to do their job properly and what they’re being asked to do is unrealistic. We just want to bring back common sense.”

News of the petition comes after a u-turn on similar changes in the Woottons area of Lynn.

Bikes were removed from routes in favour of shared vans with trolleys, but residents branded the system “chaotic” and postmen often struggled to finish their rounds.

This week, bikes were reinstated on three different rounds in the area after the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) called a meeting with Royal Mail bosses last week.

Adam Oakes, CWU’s Anglia divisional representative, said the meeting was called as the new system wasn’t working in the Woottons.

He said: “We wanted to get it working again in that area as the new system seems to be working in the rest of the town. We’re not sure whether it’s the longer driveways or the amount of mail, but deliveries in the Woottons were taking too long. Royal Mail seemed to have forgotten that postmen scoot along on their bikes so replacing them with vans and walking is going to take a lot longer.

“Bikes were put back this week and hopefully that will help.”

Mr Oakes said he was aware of the petition in the Massingham area and said an initial meeting to try and resolve the issues was to be held this week.

He added: “Six postmen signed it which was quite embarrassing for us as they were all union members. A meeting is being held to find out what the issues are and we will do our best to address them.”

A Royal Mail spokesman yesterday confirmed that bikes remained part of delivery operations in some parts of the Lynn area, but said the general switch to vans and trolleys would reduce the load on staff, cut cycling accidents and send all post out at the same time.

The changes are part of an ongoing national modernisation programme, which the company claims is vital to secure the service’s future.

The spokesman added: “While customers may see a different postman or women delivering mail or mail possibly arriving at a different time, all our staff are committed to delivering a high level of service to customers.”

[demon]

get it put online to we will all sign it

[Lovemoney]

get it put online to we will all sign it

well said included me

[youwot!!!!!]

get it put online to we will all sign it

wouldn't make any difference if the whole country signed it as royal fail couldn't care less about service any more,its all about profit.

[wayoutman]

should it not have read.... "deliveries in the Woottons are too long".

[Lincox]

all our staff are committed to delivering a high level of service to customers

Yes all of them except those greedy b..strds at the top who are bleeding the company dry.