Fears over future of Blackheath delivery office

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CONCERNS have been raised about the possible closure of a Royal Mail delivery office.

Plans are being explored that could see Blackheath delivery office in Blackheath Grove shut and merged with its counterpart in Horn Lane, Greenwich.

Staff in both offices have been made aware of the proposals but the Royal Mail said not decision had been made.

If it goes ahead the operation would be relocated to Greenwich next summer.

Royal Mail says it is part of its on going efficiency drive.

In a statement a spokeswoman said: "With letter volumes in structural decline, and the volume of parcels we carry increasing, Blackheath delivery office is no longer fit for purpose.

"Built in 1920, this office serves a high proportion of residential customers within the SE3 postcode area.

"It does not now have sufficient space for the number of parcels we handle as people do more of their shopping online.

"The proposed new location, at Greenwich delivery office, has sufficient space for the Blackheath delivery operations.

"It also has capacity to cater for the significant increase in addresses that is forecast in the area in the coming years.

"Secure parking is available for all of Royal Mail’s delivery vehicles used by our postmen and women in both Blackheath and Greenwich.

"If this move goes ahead, there would be no job losses."

However campaigners say it will mean customers in Blackheath will have further to travel.

In a letter to Royal Mail chief executive Moya Greene, Heidi Alexander, MP for Lewisham East said she and fellow MPs who represent Blackheath, Matthew Pennycook and Clive Efford, would welcome a meeting to discuss the situation.

She said: "We are are concerned that customers in Blackheath will now have to travel to Greenwich to pick up return letters and parcels and that deliveries to households and businesses in Blackheath will be pushed further back into the day due to increased travel times from the Greenwich site.

"We are particularly keen to explore whether there is any way in which an enquiries office could be kept in Blackheath to ensure customers don’t have to make the three-mile journey to Greenwich to collect undelivered items.

"We are also keen to understand exactly what the plans involve in terms of the redevelopment of the Horn Lane site and the impact on jobs."