Give your view on Ellesmere delivery office fight

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.shropshirestar.com/2009/03/0 ... ice-fight/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A people-power campaign is hoping to save a vital post office in north Shropshire - and you can add your voice to their fight here.

The Shropshire Star is throwing its weight behind the campaign to save the Royal Mail delivery office in Ellesmere.

A petition has also been launched by Ellesmere Town Council against any move to transfer the service to Oswestry after Royal Mail bosses said they were considering the option.

Town councillors vowed to fight to keep the delivery office in the town after receiving a letter from Royal Mail at a meeting on Monday.

The firm said although it had no plans to close the office it was reviewing operations.

The letter said closing the Ellesmere delivery office and providing the service from Oswestry would be an option.

Councillor Ann Hartley said she had heard rumours the office could be shut as early as April 1.

Councillors are now hoping to meet Royal Mail officials to discuss their concerns.

Ellesmere town clerk Peter Holloway today urged people to use shropshirestar.com to vote on the future of the delivery office.

He said votes registered on Shropshirestar.com would be used by the council in its fight against the plans.

He said: “Anyone who does not have a motor car will be disadvantaged, and for villages on the wrong side of the town, they will probably have to go to Shrewsbury to collect parcels.”

He said the town hall would be affected because it would have to close for deliveries. It would no longer be a matter of simply going down the road to colect items.

“I’m sure there will be other business affected that way. The business park is also expanding so there may be new business affected by it.

“It does not make sense relocating when you think about the expansion that’s about to take place with regard the supermarket and new housing development on the Wharf.

“Ellesmere is growing and it just seems completely against all sense to suggest moving the delivery office.

“I would urge anyone that feels passionately enough about maintaining a very important local service to express their wishes and they can do it in writing to me at this office or register on the website,” he added.

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There is a vote on this site:

Should Ellesmere keep its Royal Mail delivery office?

* Yes (95%)
* No (5%)

[DGP1]

How big is the DO? Is it one of those tiny ones with only 3/4 people or a medium sized one with 40/50 staff because it is quite hard to justify keeping an office that only has 4/5 people and only serves a couple of thousand people.

[andy2007]

How big is the DO? Is it one of those tiny ones with only 3/4 people or a medium sized one with 40/50 staff because it is quite hard to justify keeping an office that only has 4/5 people and only serves a couple of thousand people.

So does that mean that we shouldn't even try to keep them going?
Is it fair or reasonable to treat an area differently, just because it's sparsely populated?

[DGP1]

How big is the DO? Is it one of those tiny ones with only 3/4 people or a medium sized one with 40/50 staff because it is quite hard to justify keeping an office that only has 4/5 people and only serves a couple of thousand people.

So does that mean that we shouldn't even try to keep them going?
Is it fair or reasonable to treat an area differently, just because it's sparsely populated?

Why would RM want to run an office (with all it's costs) that only serves a few thousand people, it's hard enough with a population of 20k plus to keep our DO

[Drunk]

How big is the DO? Is it one of those tiny ones with only 3/4 people or a medium sized one with 40/50 staff because it is quite hard to justify keeping an office that only has 4/5 people and only serves a couple of thousand people.

At most there is 10-15 people working out of Ellesmere.

[dvbuk55]

It is very difficult for people to leave their "comfort" zone - it's a bit like a "blanky" and sucking the thumb. The reality is that small offices are inefficient and costly and should be integrated into larger units. Anyone with any business acumen at all can understand it is cheaper to run a large integrated unit than several smaller ones. Those in smaller units are going to then probably keep the same duty but travelling will be longer and on a geo route may weel have those duties integrated.

[mitzi]

what reasons are RM giving for closing this office?