Robertsbridge delivery office to move to Battle

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Robertsbridge delivery office will move out of the village to it's new home in Battle on Saturday.
The branch is to leave its temporary accommodation in the Robertsbridge Club for the Battle office in the High Street.

The Robertsbridge branch has been based at the club since December 2007, when it moved from its long-standing home in the village Post Office.

Royal Mail had applied to expand the Battle building to take the Robertsbridge office, but this was rejected by Rother District Council last year.

But the branch move is going ahead anyway, with the Royal Mail saying it has 'changed its operations and equipment' at Battle to accommodate the eight extra members of staff and equipment from Robertsbridge.

The move has been met with criticism from the Robertsbridge Enterprise Group.

Cllr Sue Prochak, who is a member of REG, said: "Robertsbridge Enterprise Group has been trying to keep the jobs local here.

"We protested against the planning application to extend the sorting office in Battle and we wanted to keep jobs in Robertsbridge to reduce vehicle movements.

"Obviously we are disappointed that jobs are leaving Robertsbridge and increasing traffic movements into Battle.

"It's disappointing as we were trying to keep the jobs here."

Cllr Prochak said one member of REG was considering getting her barn converted and offering it to the Royal Mail to use as a permanent home for the delivery office, in order to keep it in the village.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "We have made changes to our operations and equipment and been able to accommodate staff in the Battle building without any need for extension."

She added: "All in all, it's the best location and we have been taking into account customers' needs and will be avoiding extra car journeys by having mail which requires a signature or is too big to fit through the letterbox to be picked up at Robertsbridge Post Office.

"There should not be any alterations in the service and customers should not notice anything different."