Lossiemouth residents fight plans to shut Royal Mail delivery office/Lossiemouth woman’s crusade

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https://i1.wp.com/www.pressandjournal.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/Fran.jpg?resize=660%2C496A Lossiemouth mum has launched a crusade to dissuade Royal Mail from closing the town’s delivery office.

The firm has announced plans to relocate the collection point to Elgin this spring, leaving residents with a 12-mile round trip to pick up items.

Royal Mail said the move had been imposed upon them by a decline in people sending letters, and increasing competition from other parcel delivery groups.

But outraged shop worker Fran Mitchell fears Lossiemouth is becoming “a ghost town”, and has launched a petition urging Royal Mail to consider a U-turn.

The 45-year-old said: “This will really hit our pensioners, and young parents on a low income.

“Those that don’t drive will have to get the bus into Elgin just to pick something up, there’s been a lot of negative feedback about the idea.

“It feels like Lossiemouth is turning into a ghost town, this is just a major blow for the community.

“I hope my petition will highlight those concerns, and get Royal Mail to listen to us.”

Ms Mitchell also questioned a lack of consultation prior to the organisation announcing plans to axe its Lossiemouth delivery office.

Her online petition has already received the backing of hundreds, and now she is keen to distribute paper copies around the town’s shops.

Ms Mitchell added: “The response has been overwhelming, some of the comments I’ve had from people it will affect have been really sad.

“This just seems so wrong.”

Royal Mail maintains that relocating its delivery office to Elgin will “increase the efficiency of its operations”.

And the body vowed to discuss the move with residents over the coming months before it comes into effect.

A spokesman said: “As a commercial business, Royal Mail is operating in a market where letters are in structural decline and where there is competition in letters and parcels.

“The Lossiemouth office is no longer fit for purpose, as we now deal with many more parcels.

“All services, including picking up mail, will transfer to Elgin delivery office, which has increased opening hours and improved facilities for customers.”

The firm also stressed that arrangements can be made to leave undelivered post with neighbours.

The 11 staff members who currently work at the Lossiemouth office will retain their jobs.

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Royal Mail maintains that relocating its delivery office to Elgin will “increase the efficiency of its operations”.

I think they mistyped efficiency because I think they really mean profits.

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A Lossiemouth woman’s crusade to keep the town’s Royal Mail delivery office open has received the stamp of approval from Moray’s political leaders.

Fran Mitchell is desperately trying to reverse a decision to relocate the High Street collection point to Elgin, as it will leave residents facing a 12-mile round trip to pick up items.

Ms Mitchell’s petition has secured the support of more than 400 backers online, and last night she was “over the moon” when she learned that area MP Angus Robertson and MSP Richard Lochhead were keen to champion her cause.

Mr Robertson has written to Royal Mail top brass to highlight the problems that closing the Lossiemouth delivery office would bring residents.

He said: “This has come as a huge blow to the local community.

“I commend Ms Mitchell for taking the initiative by petitioning Royal Mail, and I have taken steps to ensure that its bosses are aware of the community’s anger at these plans.

“A 12-mile round trip to collect parcels is quite an undertaking, particularly for the most vulnerable in our community.”

Mr Lochhead said worried constituents had contacted him about the issue.

He added: “The local community has expressed significant concern about the closure of the delivery office.

“This is understandable when you consider that many people do not have a car, and there are those who aren’t physically able to make a trip to Elgin by public transport to collect a parcel.”

Ms Mitchell said her spirits had been buoyed by the politicians’ show of support, and she will today distribute paper copies of her petition around town centre stores.

She said: “This really means a lot to people here, losing the office would be a disaster for us.

“Now it’s all about getting signatures, if people do not speak up they won’t be heard.”

Yesterday, Royal Mail stressed that customers could arrange redelivery of items they were unable to collect from Elgin.

A spokeswoman said: “Customer do not need to travel to pick up items if they don’t want to.

“Royal Mail offers a free redelivery service, six days a week to the customers’ address or another address in the same postcode, such as a relative or a friend.”