Closing date for Heckmondwike delivery office

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CAMPAIGNERS have lost their fight to save Heckmondwike’s post delivery office.

The Royal Mail has confirmed the delivery office in Oldfield Lane will close on August 28, with work moving to Grange Valley Road delivery office in Batley.

Campaigners fought to save the delivery office, holding public meetings and collecting signatures, but Royal Mail pressed on with the move.

Royal Mail has blamed ‘declining mail volumes and increasingly tough trading conditions’ for the closure.

Tony Power, Royal Mail delivery sector manager, said: “Customers can be reassured that we will do all we can to minimise disruption and ensure we maintain the high level of service they expect and deserve from Royal Mail.”

There will be no compulsory redundancies.

Current opening hours at Batley are 7am-noon Monday to Friday at 7am-10am on Saturday, but the hours will be increased once work from Heckmondwike is transferred.

On Facebook, David Michael Dyson said: “I find this situation absolutely disgusting, some local people would find it impossible to travel anywhere else because of transport difficulties. Heckmondwike is a busy office with a constant stream of customers picking up parcels. It is absolute stupidity and bloody minded.”

Spen MP Mike Wood, who supported the campaign, said: “Closing Heckmondwike’s delivery office is an unnecessary and damaging step that would deprive people and businesses in Heckmondwike and Liversedge of a key public service. The proposal is also at odds with Royal Mail’s own stated processes and procedures. The impact this will have on their customers, local residents and businesses, has not been adequately considered.”

Mr Wood has written to postal services minister Norman Lamb asking for his support, including the campaigners’ petition.

He added: “The petition is of course a clear indication of the message Royal Mail would have received had they bothered to carry out proper consultation.

“I have yet to receive a response from the minister but remain hopeful that even at this late stage we can get Royal Mail to see sense and reverse their decision.”

Heckmondwike’s post office is unaffected and remains open.