Staff at the Hampton Royal Mail delivery office have launched a petition opposing the potential relocation of their workplace.
Royal Mail has said it is “exploring the option” of moving the office to Ashford.
According to RM, the proposed move is down to the office in Hampton being a “small building built in 1960 which now no longer meets our requirement”.
However, the workers, who were told the news by Royal Mail on Tuesday, March 6, dispute this reasoning.
Chris, the Communication Workers Union rep who launched the petition, said: “I just think it’s ridiculous.
“We have several staff who live locally and don’t drive- this will really impact them.
“The traffic on the way to Ashford will also affect services, there will be later deliveries and smaller rounds.
“It will affect the customers who will have to go to Ashford to pick up their mail.
“One of the best things about our office is that we are local.
“It all comes down to money- Royal Mail know the land is lucrative.
“I’m hoping that objections from local people and staff will make them reconsider.”
He added: “Hopefully through the consultation stage Royal Mail will realise that this will cost them custom as well as cost them more day to day to deliver the same service from Ashford.
“The problem is they just seem to be looking for quick profit for shareholders and I do understand why a business would do this, however they need to understand that customers and the staff still see Royal Mail as a public service and it’s not just another business.
“The CWU feels it has a duty to not only protect our members but the service and traditions of Royal Mail.”
Another petition has also been launched by Hampton One and had received nearly 800 signatures at the time of writing.
“The detailed issues raised by the CWU only serve to reinforce the comments made by residents in Hampton who are equally opposed to the move."
Cllr Roberts has secured a meeting with Royal Mail management and Vince Cable to discuss their plans and the concerns raised.
He added: “I will be pressing them at that meeting to agree to a public meeting in Hampton where residents and postal workers can put their views directly.
“I sincerely hope that weight of public opposition to these plans will give Royal Mail cause to rethink these hugely damaging plans.”
A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said: “This proposed relocation is part of Royal Mail’s ongoing transformation of its business to increase the efficiency of its operation as well as providing delivery offices that are fit for purpose for our staff and for our customers.
“As a business we are responding to the huge growth in electronic communications and decline in letter volumes, while seeing a high volume of parcels and online shopping which need to be delivered to customers.
“Hampton delivery office is a small building built in 1960 which now no longer meets our requirements.”