Bromyard DO - Post office announces it is close depot

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ROYAL Mail has announced it will shut its Bromyard delivery office and transfer mail operations to Hereford and Worcester.

The decision not to renew the lease on the depot on the Porthouse Industrial Estate, which lapses at the end of March, was taken following a review of the operational efficiency and commercial practicality of the unit.

There will be no compulsory redundancies among the 16 members of staff and Royal Mail has promised to reimburse them for any extra mileage incurred as a result of the move.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said the decision had been made because the “declining mail volumes and increasingly tough trading conditions” but the level of service would not be effected.

He said: “We are confident that we will still achieve deliveries within our specified aim of mid-afternoon as there will be more people doing the preparation of deliveries. People may see a slight change in the time they receive their mail but it will be within that specification.”

Herefordshire ward councillor Bernard Hunt said: “They are going straight to the end game. The underhanded way that Royal Mail have dealt with this leaves a nasty taste in my mouth and that of local people. An average of an hour will be lost each day. Where do you make it up? You can’t, because it has got to be added on.”

Arrangements are being made to allow customers to continue to collect mail locally when it isn’t possible to make the delivery first time. The location of this facility is yet to be confirmed.

The final details of the transfer are being discussed with the Communication Workers Union with the aim of the move taking place in March.