Kidsgrove DO could be shut under Royal Mail plans

[ar4daley]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Ki ... story.html


ROYAL Mail has announced proposals to close a North Staffordshire delivery office.

The firm is currently consulting staff and union representatives on plans to shut its Kidsgrove base in Congleton Road and move its operations to the delivery office at Knutton.

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Kidsgrove Delivery Office
The Kidsgrove site employs about 70 people and, although the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) says it has not been notified of any potential redundancies, representatives fear it could mean later deliveries for residents and businesses in the area.

CWU Midlands regional secretary Lee Barron said: "The concern we have is how customer service could be affected.

"If staff are coming from the Newcastle office, they will have further to travel and it could lead to later deliveries.

"Also, if someone in Kidsgrove misses a delivery it currently goes back to that office and they can nip down the road and pick it up.

"In the future they will have to travel to Newcastle.

"We want to make sure there is a package in place for employees who have to move, where any additional travel is compensated.

"We'll be sitting down with Royal Mail to make sure the impact on staff is minimal, in line with what been agreed nationally, and also to mitigate any reduction in service.

"It doesn't make much economic sense to merge the offices to be honest.

"I presume they want to shut the Kidsgrove building down and flog it off, but that is a very short term approach."

Joan Walley, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, has launched a petition against the plans.

She said: "This is a major issue for Kidsgrove.

"Quite apart from anything else, there has been no consultation with local businesses or householders.

"My fear is if the work is transferred to Knutton, the workforce will have further to travel to start their deliveries and it won't be done on time.

"Royal Mail needs to understand that if it takes this investment away from the town, it is undermining Kidsgrove as a local commercial and residential centre.

"There has already been a deterioration of performance of postal deliveries across the ST7 area.

"We should be looking to improve services for residents and businesses, not cut them back.

"We have already seen the removal of the sorting office at Stoke to Wolverhampton and services at Crewe to Warrington.

"This region is becoming a hole when it comes to Royal Mail, rather than an investment hub, and it's just not on."

Royal Mail has stressed that no final decision has yet been taken.

Spokesman Richard Hall said: "Royal Mail is consulting with the CWU on a proposal to relocate the Kidsgrove delivery office to our operation at Newcastle.

"Faced with declining mail volumes and increasingly tough trading conditions, Royal Mail constantly reviews the operational efficiency and commercial practicality of all its units.

"As part of our business-wide investment and modernisation programme, in which Royal Mail is investing in the introduction of new technology and equipment and upgraded operational facilities, we need to make sure we have world-class facilities.

"This enables us to improve working conditions for our staff and also provide the most efficient and effective network for delivering the post.

"Our employees are aware of the consultation. We have not made a final decision.

"Once the consultation with the CWU and our employees in Kidsgrove is completed, we will communicate our decision to staff, our customers and wider stakeholders."

To sign the petition visit http://www.joanwalleymp.org.uk

[TrueBlueTerrier]

we will communicate our decision to staff, our customers and wider stakeholders

Oh good looks like staff customers and managers will be told at the appropriate time, though I think the wording they used is a tad insensitive.

[arnold cheshire]

old news not sure if its going to happen is there any news on the super office plans at chatterley vallley i wonder ??????? st7 st6 st5