5 post collection offices in Essex to close

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5 post collection offices - in Leigh, Shoebury, Rochford, Great Wakering and Canewdon to close

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ROYAL Mail has announced the closure of five delivery offices which could leave some people with a 15-mile round trip to collect parcels.

Despite previous assurances delivery offices in Leigh , Shoebury , Rochford , Great Wakering and Canewdon would remain open, the company yesterday said they would be moved to Short Street, Southend, next year.

The changes, aimed at saving money, are still being discussed and bosses insist there are no proposals to close Post Office branches. John Hunt, 49, the Essex branch secretary of the Communications’ Workers’ Union, said it would be fighting to keep the same service for residents, as well as protecting members.


He said: “It is always difficult when you are dealing with office closures. A lot of our postmen and women have worked in some of these offices for up to 40 years. “It can be quite unsettling. We don’t know the official effect on our customers yet.”

If the changes go ahead, they will come into effect in Spring 2013. Royal Mail said a decline in the number of letters sent had led to the changes. There would be no compulsory redundancies. All the staff would be moved to Southend and given travel expenses.

Steve Molloy, Royal Mail’s delivery director for the Southend area, said: “We expect to be able to share more information shortly. Such changes are, however, vital to put Royal Mail on a sound, secure and sustainable footing for the future.

“Our service to customers will continue to be a top priority during any changes, if they go ahead. Customers can be reassured we would do all we could to minimise disruption to them and ensure we maintain the high level of service they expect and deserve from Royal Mail.”

When the Echo revealed in March Short Street office, in Southend, was to stop sorting mail, assurances were given there were no plans to close local delivery offices such as Leigh and Shoebury. Short Street stopped sorting mail in March, but it remained a pick-up point and delivery base. Post is now sorted in Chelmsford, before being driven to delivery offices across Southend.

Royal Mail said it made every effort to deliver mail to customers first time. If they were not at home, a card was left and customers could arrange a redelivery free of charge.

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Warning to Royal Mail over deliveries

ROYAL Mail will lose swathes of customers if it goes ahead with plans to axe delivery offices, according to a leading councillor.

The Echo reported yesterday how the company announced it would be closing offices in Leigh , Shoebury , Rochford , Great Wakering and Canewdon and moving them to a Royal Mail outlet in Short Street, Southend.

The closures, part of cost-cutting measures set to be introduced in Spring 2013, could see some people having to undertake a 15-mile round trip to pick up packages.

John Lamb , deputy leader of Southend Council and councillor responsible for regeneration, believes Royal Mail will become less appealing to customers and will lose even more cash.

He said: “This is a real backwards step.

“If they are trying to encourage more people to use the service, they are just making themselves look less appealing.

“They need to look at how they can make their service more attractive and at the same time keep costs down.”

Royal Mail claims the change was prompted by a decline in the number of letters being sent through the post. Mr Lamb added: “They need to make it easier for customers, not more difficult. Even if they have shorter opening hours they must keep the delivery offices open.

“Businesses will use private firms for deliveries instead.”

David Schindler, 51, of George Street, Shoebury, believes the move will affect elderly residents and those with mobility issues.

He said: “The delivery office in Shoebury is just round the corner from me and it is extremely handy when a parcel can’t get delivered.

“Having it there is a vital part of the community. It gives local people jobs and it is an essential service for many.

“It will be incredibly inconvenient for local users everywhere.

“I think the biggest impact is going to be on the elderly population and people who cannot get around easily.”

[Stormproof]

ROYAL Mail will lose swathes of customers if it goes ahead with plans to axe delivery offices

How many miles will they have to travel to collect from a Courier firm? Another councillor with his head up his arse.

No matter how many people protest RM will just go ahead with their plans.

No doubt all these people bitching would of forgotten our strike and we were just a bunch of lazy greedy dinosaurs.

[avenger]

ROYAL Mail will lose swathes of customers if it goes ahead with plans to axe delivery offices

How many miles will they have to travel to collect from a Courier firm? Another councillor with his head up his arse.

No matter how many people protest RM will just go ahead with their plans.

No doubt all these people bitching would of forgotten our strike and we were just a bunch of lazy greedy dinosaurs.

my nearest couriers are a 20 mile round trip
furthest,over 50 miles
RM DO,under 4 miles round trip
I live in a city.folks moan no matter what