'Disgraceful' Royal Mail delivery office move from South Woodford to Chingford confirmed for September 25

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THE RELOCATION of a Royal Mail delivery office branded “disgraceful” by neighbours has been confirmed for next month.

The postal giant announced they were considering moving the South Woodford sorting office in Marlborough Road to Chingford in October last year.

But despite a fierce campaign by neighbours, councillors, and MPs, the controversial move has been confirmed for September 25.

If people miss a package and cannot arrange a redelivery or for a neighbour to take it instead, they will have to make the three-and-a-half-mile journey to the Royal Mail site in Station Road.

A spokesman for the company said: “Royal Mail needed to find a new location for its South Woodford delivery operations as it is currently housed in an old building that no longer meets our requirements.

“It does not have sufficient parking for Royal Mail vehicles, moving mail safely around the site, or customer parking.

“We acknowledge the interest the relocation has raised within the community, but while we welcome feedback from customers, we need to modernise our operations and provide better fit for purpose facilities for our staff and customers.”

When news broke about the potential move back in October residents quickly organised a petition against it, collecting over 1,600 signatures.

A long-standing member of staff at the South Woodford site said he feared parcels would not get delivered on time if staff got stuck in 40-minute rush hour traffic jams from Chingford.

Concerns were also raised about the poor public transport links between the two towns, particularly for those without cars, the elderly, and disabled.

MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting said: “It’s frankly ridiculous that local residents in the Woodford area will now have to go all the way to Chingford to collect their parcels if they happen to be out when Royal Mail delivers them.

“I know this will be incredibly frustrating to many people who rely on the services provided by the delivery office, particularly older residents who will now have to travel further to collect parcels.”

Roding Cllr Gwyneth Deakins added: “The announcement tells us what we already knew but it’s still disgraceful – a classic example of profits before people.

“Going to Chingford to collect post will be a nightmare and is virtually impossible for some people.”

Royal Mail insisted people will not have to travel to Chingford to pick up their parcels if they miss them first time round.

South Woodford residents can arrange to have them taken in by a neighbour but have to fill out a form at the Chingford office first. They can also have them delivered again on another day.

The company also says the Chingford office has longer opening hours than the South Woodford one and stressed there would be no job losses involved in the move.