Town unites in bid to save delivery office/Ballot

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Buckinghamshire CWU rep Andy Ball has said that he is "more optimistic than before" that Royal Mail will think again over plans to close Princes Risborough Delivery Office, after a well-attended public meeting in the town last month gave the proposals a big thumbs down.

The closure was announced last April, along with the intention to merge the office with Aylesbury Vale some six miles away - a move which would see the relocation of Princes Risborough's 24-strong team and squeeze them in with Aylesbury's existing 80 postwomen and postmen.

"The place just isn't big enough to accomodate everyone," explains Andy "car parking would become quite chaotic and we understand that the building itself would need somewhere in the region of £70,000 spent on it to bring it up to standard."

Local councillors have serious concerns at the changes too and they, along with the town's MP - high-profile House of Commons Speaker John Bercow - left regional Royal Mail director Gary Burgess in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the community when townspeople assembled to discuss the issue.

"Well over 200 local residents, the entire delivery office staff and CWU reps from our branch turned out and Royal Mail's case for the closure was, to put it bluntly, highly unconvincing," reports Andy, who serves as both the local delivery office rep and the area delivery rep for the South Central Number 1 Branch.

Following the debate, the company has invited Andy, Mr Bercow and senior local councillors to a meeting in London with top-level Royal Mail leaders later this month to look at the plan in terms of costings, social impact and the effects on service delivery. Andy is "optimistic that minds could start to change."

Given that the existing delivery office premises have now been sold, a move of some kind is inevitable, but Andy insists that a new site within Princes Risborough would be a far preferable option.

"A site has been identified on a business park on the edge of the town - a new building which, many feel, could be converted into a delivery office at a similar or perhaps even a lower cost than that envisaged under the current plans," he pointed out.

"I'd just like to thank everyone who's backed our campaign and let's hope we can achieve a satisfactory solution."

[Lounge Lizard]

"Following the debate, the company has invited Andy, Mr Bercow and senior local councillors to a meeting in London with top-level Royal Mail leaders later this month to look at the plan in terms of costings, social impact and the effects on service delivery."
"Andy is "optimistic that minds could start to change.""

[POSTMAN]

INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT - PRINCES RISBOROUGH

A ballot of the membership at Princes Risborough DO was authorised by Bob Gibson (Assistant Secretary, Indoor Department) on Monday 16th January 2012, Royal Mail has also been notified of our intention.

Ballot Papers will be dispatched on : 23rd January 2012 (1st Class Post)
...
Close of Ballot : 31st January 2012 (1st Class Post)

SOUTH CENTRAL No.1 BRANCH RECOMMEND YOU VOTE "YES"

If your are approached by local management regarding this ballot, please refer them to the indoor department at CWU HQ.