Campaigners fight to save Leeds Royal Mail office

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Postal workers and councillors have launched a campaign to save a Royal Mail delivery office in Leeds.

Royal Mail is to close its York Road office which serves the LS9 East Leeds postcode area.

The closure is due to take place by February next year. Work done in the York Road office will be switched to Seacroft delivery office. Members of the public needing to collect items will have to make a journey to Seacroft.

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The Communication Workers Union (CWU) and local Labour councillors Asghar Khan and Ron Grahame are opposing the closure and have held a public meeting.

Andy Lee, secretary of the union’s Leeds branch, said: “The move has been announced without consulting the community and its elected councillors or MPs, or the workers and their union.

“Residents can use the office to pick up parcels, redirect or hold mail, and access other services. The York Road office has some of the highest quality of service figures for the Leeds area.”

Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Labour councillor Asghar Khan said: “I believe it’s wrong to do this without even asking local people what they think. Many of the residents I represent in Leeds 9 would struggle to get to Seacroft delivery office to pick up parcels.”

Coun Ron Grahame said: “I’m worried that Royal Mail hasn’t come forward with any consultation even over what to do with the building if it is sold.

“If the office is closed, staff won’t be happy and services will be transferred miles away to Seacroft office. For our many residents such a long costly trip would be very difficult to make”.

Royal Mail has said there will be no job losses as a result of the move, but staff are concerned over being transferred to Seacroft or elsewhere.

No-one was available for comment from Royal Mail.

Mr Lee said: “In my opinion closing York Road Delivery Office would affect the quality of service offered to local residents and businesses and would be an unnecessary disruption to our members’ current working life.

“Most have worked at the office for nearly a decade and live locally. While receiving travel allowances for three years, ultimately they will have to pay more and travel longer to get to work.”

He added: “There is no rationale behind Royal Mail’s announcement other than the money they will gain by selling the site.”

The union and councillors are campaigning on the internet and in the local area with a petition and leaflets.

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About 10 years ago RM moved Leeds 8 DO to Dolly Lane,Leeds 9.Now they're moving Leeds 9 DO to Leeds 15