Posties can't offer first-class service :Parking rules

[POSTMAN]

Posties can’t offer first-class service because of ridiculous parking rules

http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/re ... -27252780/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

THE delivery of thousands of letters and parcels was delayed after blundering traffic wardens began issuing fines to Paisley posties when they stopped their vans to collect mail.

The Paisley Daily Express can reveal that large piles of letters couldn’t be picked up from some of the town’s busiest postboxes on time because the wardens, who are managed by Renfrewshire Council, ignored the legal right of mail staff to stop briefly at bus stops and bus lanes.

At least one Paisley postie was hit with a £30 parking fine for stopping in Smithhills Street – and this made other staff wary of stopping at their usual spots in case they were also given a ticket.

Now bosses at Royal Mail have written to Renfrewshire Council to express their concern about the actions of the over-zealous traffic wardens.

And, last night, embarrassed council chiefs apologised for the mistake and confirmed they would be cancelling any fines which were handed out to posties as they went about their business.

Royal Mail staff have always been able to make quick stops in bus lanes to empty postboxes and they were stunned to be told by wardens that a number of locations which are now considered to be bus stops were out of bounds for their famous red vans.

For an entire week, staff couldn’t get access to the area in and around the Piazza Post Office – which is the busiest branch in Paisley – until after 4pm, meaning they failed to gather up any mail at the first three collection times of each day.

On one day in particular, there were no uplifts at all from the Piazza Post Office, the Glasgow Road Post Office or postboxes in Gauze Street and Causeyside Street.

This meant that, through no fault of their own, staff were breaching their Universal Service Obligation to deliver mail every working day.

The busy British Red Cross office, which deals with donations from across the UK, and the Scottish Care Commission headquarters, both in Smithhills Street, were among those hit by the delays.

One fed-up Royal Mail worker told the Express: “All of a sudden, there seems to be a problem with us parking at bus stops or in bus lanes, even though we have always done this.

“All of our other postboxes in Paisley town centre, such as those in Glasgow Road, Causeyside Street, Gauze Street and Smithhills Street, all have bus stops beside them, so it’s a real problem.”

Julie Morrison, spokeswoman for Royal Mail, confirmed their staff have been experiencing “extreme difficulty” in accessing postboxes, post office branches and customer premises in Paisley town centre due to new parking restrictions.

She added: “The restrictions meant that we were unable to meet our Universal Service Obligation and, therefore, we wrote to Renfrewshire Council, expressing our concern.

“Royal Mail is governed by the Postal Services Act, which allows us to park in any safe location to carry out our business.

“Council officials have told us that the matter has been dealt with and we will not experience these problems in the course of our work again.

“We are now waiting for written confirmation of this from the council.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokeswoman said: “We have apologised to Royal Mail for this mistake.

“As soon as the council became aware that Royal Mail vehicles were having difficulty making deliveries and collections, we agreed that they would be exempt in the areas of concern.

“We have provided Royal Mail with a notice to display on the dashboard of their vehicles that indicates that the vehicle is making deliveries and is therefore exempt from parking restrictions.

“We will, of course, cancel any penalties issued to date and will work with Royal Mail to ensure that postal services continue to operate efficiently in Paisley town centre.”

[noggin1969]

“Royal Mail is governed by the Postal Services Act, which allows us to park in any safe location to carry out our business.

Will this still count

[Lounge Lizard]

“Royal Mail is governed by the Postal Services Act, which allows us to park in any safe location to carry out our business.

Will this still count when we are privatized ? and do couriers have the same right ?

No, of course not, but Cable should have thought of that before bringing in his latest proposals.


“We have provided Royal Mail with a notice to display on the dashboard of their vehicles that indicates that the vehicle is making deliveries and is therefore exempt from parking restrictions." - and what half witted council employee should need a notice to display on the dashboard to indicate that the vehicle is making deliveries and is therefore exempt from parking restrictions."? -

[westlondonpostie]

We've been told that anyone getting a parking ticket for parking in a bus stop will have to pay the fine as Royal Mail will not contest it,
If you a driver make sure you get it in writing from you DOM that you will not be liable for any fines for parking in a bus stop, before you do.

[maisymoo04]

this is only collecting mail,wait till we our van sharing more vans on the road should be fun,NOT

[Chopstix]

hahaha

[maisymoo04]

foxy that looks like me walkin into our jobby there lad