Derby RM to look at options, but admits a move still likely

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail to look at options, but admits a move still likely

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DERBY North MP Chris Williamson remains hopeful Royal Mail jobs can be saved in the city after meeting with postal bosses.

The company revealed in July that it planned to relocate the city's sorting office, in Midland Road, to Nottingham.

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Royal Mail plans to downgrade its Midland Road sorting office, above, to a delivery office, with the loss of 182 jobs.
It meant 182 workers out of the 300 employed in Derby would lose their jobs.

But now, following the meeting with Mr Williamson, Royal Mail bosses have agreed to look at possible sites for the sorting office to stay in Derby.

Mr Williamson said he applauded the decision, adding: "I am grateful to the Royal Mail for giving us this 11th-hour opportunity to explore other options."

He added that the meeting was constructive and that the company had stressed its long-term commitment to the city.

However, despite the MP's optimism, Mike Eady, Royal Mail director of logistics for the Midlands, said that it still made "more commercial sense" for the sorting office to move to Nottingham.

The Midland Road site would remain as a delivery office.

Mr Eady said: "As part of our review of the Midlands mail centre network, our preferred option is to utilise the spare capacity we have at our existing mail centre in Nottingham.

"All of the evidence gathered for the business case to relocate processing work from Derby demonstrates it makes more commercial sense to utilise that capacity than commission a new site elsewhere."

Royal Mail officials met with the MP at his office in the Westfield Centre.

Also at the meeting was Councillor Ranjit Banwait, the deputy leader of Derby's Labour party.

Mr Banwait said: "It is essential that no stone is left unturned before taking such a major decision to move the Royal Mail's sorting operation out of Derby."

Mr Eady said talks would begin with Marketing Derby, the group which promotes the city and tries to attract investment into it.

He said: "We are meeting Marketing Derby to explore the opportunities available and what support can be given to strengthen our position in the area and maximise the potential of the Midland Road site.

"We will continue to support our people through the change process as we work towards our final decision.

"If our plans do proceed, we will continue to be a significant employer in the DE postcode area, with around 1,100 employees.

"We remain committed to our customers and employees across both Derby and the Midlands area."

Royal Mail's announcement was the latest in a string of job cuts in Derby, totalling more than 3,200, at firms such as Bombardier, Egg, BemroseBooth and Celanese.

And, in a move similar to the Royal Mail plan, 44 Valuation Office Agency workers are moving to Nottingham.

[Phantom]

Sounds like a repeat of the whats happening in London, CWU anyone? as in where the f**k are YOU! before its too late!