Anger over Malmesbury closure

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9 ... y_closure/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Business leaders and councillors are up in arms after the Royal Mail announced it will be relocating its sorting office in Malmesbury to Wootton Bassett, 20 miles away.

The move from the office in the High Street is due to take place in 2012 and has been attributed to difficult trading conditions and a decline in people using the mail service.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result. He said: “Faced with declining mail volumes and increasingly tough trading conditions, Royal Mail constantly reviews the operational efficiency and commercial practicality of all its units.

“The move of the Malmesbury operation, which delivers mail to customers in the SN16 postcode area, will provide improved working conditions, secure employment and a more cost effective operation.”

Paul Baker, chairman of the Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce, described it as crazy. “It all came as a bit of a surprise,” he said.

“It seems crazy that another one of the town’s services is being taken away when we are being asked to look at extra housing and further development.

“It puts extra strain on local businesses having to travel out to get parcels.

“What would happen to the very large building on the High Street because empty premises is not what we need. It’s not good news for the High Street.”

Royal Mail confirmed in its statement that a local site will be made available for residents to collect parcels and letters, but there are concerns for the postal staff who will have to make extra journeys.

Malmesbury Mayor Steve Cox said: “The local postmen and women will have to drive to Wootton Bassett and back again and that has got a massive carbon footprint.

“I would have thought that we are a big enough town to have our own sorting office.”

Malmesbury’s Wiltshire councillor Simon Killane said: “This facility has served our community well for many years.

“I, and the other members of the Malmesbury Area Board, have requested that a senior representative from Royal Mail attends the next area board meeting. We must urgently investigate ways to make sure that local jobs and services are not damaged by these proposals.”

The area board meeting will be held in Malmesbury Town Hall on June 29 at 6.30pm.

[SexyLegs]

So how are Malmesbury any different to Corsham, and something to look forward to Malmesburyites, your rounds will not be changed to take into account the 30-40 minute travel time you will now have on top of your dutys, speed up guys, speed up! lol