MPs launch campaign to stop closure of postal delivery office months after eight others put at risk

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... e-11743622" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A campaign has been launched to save a Greater Manchester postal delivery office from closure - months after shock plans to shut eight others were revealed.

MPs Angela Rayner and Jonathan Reynolds have blasted the proposal, which would see some residents forced to travel an extra 16 miles to get to the Oldham office where staff could be moved.

Tameside council bosses and members of the Communications Workers Union have joined the fight.

Royal Mail chiefs could soon shut down the Ashton Fleet Street and move more than 80 staff to the Oldham office.

Campaigners say the closure would force residents to travel further to collect or drop off mail, lead to longer journeys for staff and would be a blow for business in Ashton town centre.

Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner and Stalybridge and Hyde’s Jonathan Reynolds have demanded an urgent meeting with Royal Mail bosses in London.

In March it was revealed that closure plans could affect depots in Irlam, Openshaw, Droylsden, Stretford, Atherton and Tyldesley, in Wigan, and Dobcross and Greenfield, near Oldham.

The Royal Mail said services and staff would relocate to existing, nearby sites so there would be no job losses.

Mrs Rayner said: “We are going to fight this all the way. Closing the Ashton delivery office makes no sense. It is very well-used by the public - the number of parcels and packages is growing all the time because of the internet.

“It serves hundreds of people every day.

“Closure would mean extra travel and inconvenience for both the public and staff and a far worse service for local people.”

Mr Reynolds added: “This is just not acceptable to the people of Stalybridge and Hyde - if the Ashton office closed, local people would in some cases have to travel an extra 16 miles, which could take two and a half hours and four buses to get to Oldham.”

A Royal Mail spokesman refused to confirm if the eight depots understood to be in the firing line in March were still at risk.

Asked about the Ashton office, he said: “Royal Mail is consulting its union and residents regarding a proposed relocation of its Ashton sorting office to Oldham.

“There will be no job losses. In considering this move, our objective is to provide better facilities for our people and our customers and to increase the efficiency of our operation.

“Should any proposal to be adopted formally, detailed planning will take place.

“This would include establishing alternative local collection points for undelivered mail items.”

[olilew]

We had all this s**t, petitions and everything and they still closed ours!

[Surreypostie]

I don't see what MP's can hope to achieve, it is a private company and RM are obviously doing this for commercial reasons. When it was a public company these MP's may had had some influence. Still it gets them some publicity and makes it look as though they care.

[RedBagMan]

https://www.change.org/p/royal-mail-roy ... ylink_long" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like you say ... it's now "a business" ... the customers come last (or maybe just in front of the staff) ... and what will happen - people will use other methods of delivery etc etc ... fill in the rest ...