Umunna attacks mail collection move

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/nati ... -1-6776972" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Changes to collection times at thousands of post boxes are "disappointing" for consumers and businesses, the shadow business secretary has said.

Royal Mail said the changes, which will see mail picked up by delivery staff during their rounds, will ensure it is able to maintain its estate of 115,000 post boxes, despite a 33% drop in volumes since 2005.

Between 45,000 and 50,000 of its post boxes will move to the earlier collection time - typically 9am to 3pm - although the company has pledged there will still be a late posting box within half a mile.

But Labour's Chuka Umunna said the announcement added "insult to injury" after Royal Mail was privatised last year.

"In their unnecessary fire sale of Royal Mail, the Tory-led government put vital postal services at risk and, as many feared when the privatisation took place, we are now seeing consumers losing out," said Mr Umunna.


"This adds insult to injury after taxpayers were left short changed by hundreds of millions of pounds as the 'priority' City investors selected by the Tory-led government made a killing.

"Labour is clear that the Universal Service Obligation and the historic link between Royal Mail and the Post Office network must be safeguarded and strengthened to protect postal services for the future."

Royal Mail has also said it will introduce 2,000 new boxes in areas of under-provision, particularly in rural parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Some of the new boxes will also be added in high footfall areas such as railway stations and shopping centres.

Around 12,000 postboxes in rural areas are already emptied through collection on delivery, but the majority of those affected by today's changes will be in urban and suburban areas. An indicator tab on the post box will show if the collection has been made.

Royal Mail said the changes will unlock the opportunity for efficiency savings, while adding that many post boxes no longer cover their costs.

It said: "Rather than decommission uneconomic postboxes, while staying within the regulated density requirement, Royal Mail will ensure their viability by improving the efficiency of its collections arrangements."

The company said it has discussed its plans with Citizen's Advice and Consumer Council Northern Ireland and has also notified Ofcom.

The regulator requires that 98% of all households should be within half a mile of a post box. With the addition of around 2,000 new post boxes, the company said it will improve on its current rate of 98.32%.

Last year, Ofcom's User Needs Review found that 91% of postal users did not choose a postal box based on collection time.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: "Ofcom recognises the need for Royal Mail to become more efficient so it can sustain a universal postal service that consumers value highly.

"While the changes won't affect the majority of postal users, Ofcom expects Royal Mail to communicate clearly with any affected consumers and ensure that their reasonable needs continue to be met."

[Red Robbo]

Another Labour leader hypocrite , he won't renationalise RM if Labour return to power so what does he care about collections ??

[Lounge Lizard]

Another Labour leader hypocrite , he won't renationalise RM if Labour return to power so what does he care about collections ??

Indeed, and still about 115,000 post boxes, yet "a 33% drop in volumes since 2005" and probably a 90% drop in the volume of stamped mail over the last fifty or sixty years.
I expect to be emptying rural boxes soon and won't be the least bit surprised if there's often no letters in some of them.

[Grinder64]

Another Labour leader hypocrite , he won't renationalise RM if Labour return to power so what does he care about collections ??

Precisely, another cardboard cut-out careerist (I was going to use another word beginning with 'c'). But of course Billy & the boys still see things through rose-tinted spectacles... http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-4b ... -c7I7l0zFM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It's about time we told them to get on side or get stuffed.

[DirtyHarry]

Another Labour leader hypocrite , he won't renationalise RM if Labour return to power so what does he care about collections ??

Precisely.
We are in the grip of some of the biggest bastards going since Victorian times. As long as they can enrich themselves, climb the political career ladder, get whatever it is they want, they will say just about anything.
Listening to that berk, you would think that Labour had no hand in the privatisation of this nation's postal service, when it was them that set the ball rolling.
I would have most of that crowd in Westminster, both commons and Lords either shot out of hand, or breaking rocks for 25-30 years in a labour camp, depending on the level of crime committed against the British people.